The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the value of the combination of lymphatic contrastenhanced ultrasound (LCEUS) and intravenous contrast-enhanced ultrasound (IVCEUS) for the identification of cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). From November 2018 to March 2019, 24 consecutive patients with PTC were evaluated. All patients underwent routine US, LCEUS and IVCEUS. Pathology was used as the gold standard. After injection of a contrast agent into the thyroid parenchyma, lymphatic vessels and lymph nodes (LNs) could be exclusively displayed as hyper-enhancement on LCEUS. Benign LNs displayed a complete bright ring (100%) and homogeneous perfusion (88.9%) on LCEUS, while displaying centrifugal perfusion (66.7%) and homogenous enhancement (88.9%) on IVCEUS. Perfusion defects (94.9%) and interruption of the bright ring (71.8%) were the two characteristic LCEUS signs for diagnosing CLNM. On IVCEUS, CLNM appeared as centripetal perfusion (59.0%) and heterogeneous enhancement (59.0%). After comparison with pathology, perfusion defect was correlated to the metastatic foci in the medulla and interruption of the bright ring to the tumor seeding in the marginal sinus (all p values <0.05). LCEUS had more value (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC] = 0.850, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.682À1.000) in diagnosing CLNM than IVCEUS (AUC = 0.692, 95% CI: 0.494À0.890) and routine US (AUC = 0.581, 95% CI: 0.367À0.796). The combination of LCEUS and IVCEUS has the highest diagnostic value (AUC = 0.863, 95% CI: 0.696À1.000). LCEUS had higher diagnostic value than IVCEUS and US for CLNM from PTC. The combination of LCEUS and IVCEUS has the highest diagnostic value for CLNM.
Background
Ultrasound guided thermal ablation plays an important role in the management of thyroid disease. The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of thermal ablation for patients with solitary T1bN0M0 PTC who are ineligible for or unwilling to undergo surgery.
Materials and Methods
Data pertaining to 172 patients (38 males and 134 females) who received thermal ablation therapy at 12 hospitals between April 2015 and March 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. The mean duration of follow-up was 24.9 ± 14.1 months (range, 12–60). The technical feasibility, technical success, efficacy, and safety of treatment were analyzed. Post-ablation tumor size at various time-points was compared with pre-ablation measurement.
Results
All patients selected for thermal ablation received enlarged ablation according to contrast-enhanced ultrasound post-ablation. The maximum diameter and volume of ablation zone at 6,12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 months post-ablation were significantly smaller than those recorded pre-ablation (P < 0.05 for all). At the most recent follow-up, 106 (61.6%) tumors had completely disappeared. The rate of lymph node metastasis (LNM) was 0.6% (1/172) and the incidence of new tumor was 1.2% (2/172). The overall complication rate was 5.2% (9/172) (major complications: 4.6% [8/172]; minor complications: 0.6% [1/172]). All major complications were relieved within four months post-ablation.
Conclusion
Thermal ablation may be a feasible, effective, and safe treatment option for patients with solitary T1bN0M0 PTC who are ineligible for or unwilling to undergo surgery. It may provide a novel treatment option for selected patients.
Purpose
To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of thermal ablation for primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT).
Materials and Methods
From January 2015 to March 2020, data pertaining to patients who received thermal ablation for pHPT at 4 centers were retrospectively analyzed. The median follow-up duration was 18.1months (IQR: 6.5-42.2 months). A cure referred to the reestablishment of normal values of serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) throughout the entire follow-up period, at least more than 6 months. The technical success, effectiveness, and safety of treatment were analyzed.
Results
119 patients (mean age, 57.2 ± 16.3 years; 81 female) with 134 parathyroid nodules were enrolled. The mean maximum diameter of the parathyroid glands was 1.6 ± 0.9 cm. Ninety-six patients underwent microwave ablation (MWA), and 23 patients underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA). The technical success rate was 98.3% and the cure rate was 89.9%. Significant differences were found in the maximum diameter between the cured patients and the patients who did not undergo ablation of the target lesions. Except the cases with pHPT nodules<0.6cm in diameter, the cure rate was 95%. There were no difference in cure rates at 6 months between the MWA and RFA (MWA vs. RFA, 90.6% vs. 87.0%; χ2=0.275, p = 0.699). The volume reduction rate of the ablation zone was 94.6% at 12 months. The complication rate was 6.7% (8/119). Except one patient with persistent voice impairment, other symptoms were spontaneously resolved within six months.
Conclusion
Thermal ablation was effective and safe for pHPT.
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) for cervical metastatic lymph nodes (LNs) post resection of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Materials and methods: From November 2015 to November 2018, 14 patients with 38 cervical metastatic LNs treated by MWA were included in this retrospective study. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to compare the changes of LN and serum thyroglobulin levels pre-and post-ablation. Results: The technical success rate in this study was 100% (38/38). The mean follow-up time was 23.6 ± 9.3 months. On pre-ablation contrast-enhanced ultrasound, 25 LNs showed high-enhancement, 8 LNs showed iso-enhancement, and 5 LNs showed low-enhancement. The median largest diameter of LNs at pre-ablation and 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months post-ablation was 11.5 mm and 9.5,
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