Detection of the Single-Session Complete Ablation Rate by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound during Ultrasound-Guided Laser Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules: A Prospective Study

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the single-session complete ablation rate of ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser ablation (LA) for benign thyroid nodules. LA was performed in 90 patients with 118 benign thyroid nodules. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) was used to evaluate complete nodule ablation one day after ablation. Thyroid nodule volumes, thyroid functions, clinical symptoms and complications were evaluated 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after ablation. Results showed that all benign thyroid nodules successfully underwent LA. The single-session complete ablation rates for nodules with maximum diameters ≤2 cm, 2-3 cm and ≥3 cm were 93.4%, 70.3% and 61.1%, respectively. All nodule volumes significantly decreased than that one day after ablation (P < 0.05); at the final evaluation, the volume decreased from 6.16 ± 5.21 mL to 0.05 ± 0.01 mL. Thyroid functions did not show significant differences at one month after ablation compared with that before (P > 0.05). Three patients had obvious pain during ablation; one (1.1%) had recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, but the voice returned to normal within 6 months after treatment. Thus, ultrasound-guided LA can effectively inactivate benign thyroid nodules. LA is a potentially viable minimally invasive treatment that offers good cosmetic effects.

Minimally-invasive treatments for benign thyroid nodules: a Delphi-based consensus statement from the Italian minimally-invasive treatments of the thyroid (MITT) group

“…During follow-up, simple B-mode US nodule evaluation is generally not adequate to distinguish between the still vital part of the nodule and the area of ablated tissue. So, the use of other modalities such as color-Doppler or contrast-enhanced US may be considered for the detection of the still vital part of the treated nodule [4,52,59].…”

Application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound for evaluation of thyroid nodules

“…Ma et al [ 48 ] evaluated the single-session complete ablation rate of US-guided percutaneous laser ablations for benign thyroid nodules, and found that all nodule volumes significantly decreased from the original size at 1 day after ablation.…”

Mummified Thyroid Nodules: Conventional and Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasound Features

“…However, some typically benign thyroid nodules may spontaneously shrink, decreasing in size, while progressively showing morphologic changes that could be mistaken for malignant features on US examinations over time . This process involving morphologic changes, known as thyroid nodule mummification, may occur spontaneously over time or may result from thyroid nodule fine‐needle aspiration (FNA) or percutaneous ethanol or laser ablation . Therefore, it is important to differentiate mummified thyroid nodules from thyroid carcinomas in avoid unnecessary thyroid surgery.…”

“…fine-needle aspiration (FNA) or percutaneous ethanol or laser ablation. [4][5][6][7] Therefore, it is important to differentiate mummified thyroid nodules from thyroid carcinomas in avoid unnecessary thyroid surgery.…”