title: Ultrasound guided percutaneous microwave ablation of benign thyroid nodules: safety and imaging follow-up in 222 patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Microwave ablation is a minimally invasive technique that has been used to treat benign and malignant tumors of liver, lung and kidney. Towards thyroid nodules, only a few cases are reported so far. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules with a large sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 477 benign thyroid nodules in 222 patients underwent microwave ablation in our department from July 2009 to March 2012. Microwave ablation was carried out using microwave antenna (16G) under local anesthesia. Nodule volume, thyroid function and clinical symptoms were evaluated before treatment and at 1, 3, more than 6 months. The study was ethics committee approved and written informed consents were obtained from all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All thyroid nodules significantly decreased in size after microwave ablation. A 6-month follow-up was achieved in 254 of 477 nodules, and the mean decrease in the volume of thyroid nodules was from 2.13 ± 4.42 ml to 0.45 ± 0.90 ml, with a mean percent decrease of 0.65 ± 0.65. A volume-reduction ratio greater than 50% was observed in 82.3% (209/254) of index nodules, and 30.7% (78/254) of index nodules disappeared 6-month after the ablation. The treatment was well tolerated and no major complications were observed except pain and transient voice changes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Microwave ablation seems to be a safe and effective technique for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. Further prospective randomized studies are needed to define the role of the procedure in the treatment of thyroid nodules.
authors.affiliation: Binzhou Medical University, #346 Guan-hai Road, Lai-shan, Yantai, Shandong 264003, PR China.
authors.forename: Wenwen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Shurong
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qingling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Shoujun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Zhang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yonglin
authors.forename: Xiju
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008872:Microwaves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult