Thyroid nodule morphology affects the efficacy of ultrasound-guided interstitial laser ablation: a nested case-control study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

The literature reports a wide range of percentages of ablation in the treatment of thyroid nodules. The aim of this nested case-control study was to evaluate whether the different morphological (well-defined vs. agglomerate) characteristics of nodules affect the success rate.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

We selected 20 patients with a single and /or dominant well-defined nodule (group 1) and 20 with a nodular formation resulting from the fusion of multiple nodules (group 2). All the nodules were treated by the laser method receiving the same energy.

RESULTS:

At 6 months, patients in group 1 showed a greater decrease in volume than those in group 2. These differences were more evident after 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study demonstrates that the efficacy of laser treatment can be predicted by nodule morphology and contributes to explaining the wide differences in the percentages of ablation reported in literature.

• Authors: Giovanni Gambelunghe, Vittorio Bini, Elisa Stefanetti, Renato Colella, Massimo Monacelli, Nicola Avenia, Pierpaolo De Feo
• Journal: International journal of hyperthermia : the official journal of European Society for Hyperthermic Oncology, North American Hyperthermia Group (Int J Hyperthermia) Vol. 30 Issue 7 Pg. 486-9 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1464-5157 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25289659 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Thyroid Nodule (diagnostic imaging)
• Ultrasonography