title: [Ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser ablation for benign solid thyroid nodule: a pilot study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the method, safety and short-term efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) for benign solid thyroid nodule (BSTN).
  
  
  METHODS
  The treatment group consisting of 12 patients with single BSTN were treated with ultrasound-guided PLA. After treatment, the size and blood flow signals in conventional ultrasonography, the ablation extent of lesions in contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS), and the related complications and thyroid function were assessed in comparison with the the baseline. A control group including 12 untreated patients with single BSTN was followed-up in the same manner as in the treatment group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the treatment group, all the 12 patients completed the treatment successfully. During the follow-up, the volume of the nodules was reduced gradually (P<0.05), and blood flow signals in the nodules disappeared. Eleven nodules were non-enhanced in CEUS immediately after the treatment, and the complete ablation rate was 91.7%. During the operation, 3 patients complained of intolerable pain, which was ameliorated or totally relieved after appropriate treatment. The thyroid function showed no significant changes after the treatment (P>0.05). The control group followed up for 6 months showed no significant changes in the nodule volume or thyroid function in comparison with the baseline (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound-guided PLA is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment of BSTN without obvious adverse effect on thyroid function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. E-mail: liujuan1013@163.com.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fenglin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional