Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules assisted by a virtual needle tracking system.
Our aim was to assess the feasibility and outcome of ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) ablation of benign thyroid nodules assisted by a real-time virtual needle tracking (VT) system. Forty-five patients (34 females, mean age ± standard deviation (SD): 44 ± 16 y, range: 29-68 y) with 45 benign non-functioning thyroid nodules (mean volume ± SD: 13.5 ± 6.7 mL, range: 12-22 mL) underwent VT-assisted US-guided RF ablation. Nodule volume was evaluated before treatment and during 6-mo of follow-up. Complication rates and patient satisfaction after treatment were also evaluated. By use of the VT system, the tip of the RF electrode was identified during all ablation procedures. The overall mean volume reduction and complication rate were 72.6 ± 11.3% and 2.5%, respectively. Overall satisfaction at the 6-mo follow-up was rated by patients as positive in 42 cases (93%). The VT system could be useful in thyroid nodule ablation procedures because it is able to track the RF electrode tip even when the tip is obscured by the bubbles produced by the ablative process. VT-assisted RF ablation can be a tolerable, non-surgical treatment for patients with benign non-functioning thyroid nodules.
Dipartimento di Radiologia e Ecografia Interventistica, Ospedale Evangelico Internazionale, Genova, Italy.
Giovanni
G
Turtulici
Scuola di Specializzazione in Radiodiagnostica, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy. Electronic address: Theabo@libero.it.
Davide
D
Orlandi
Scuola di Specializzazione in Radiodiagnostica, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy.
Angelo
A
Corazza
Scuola di Specializzazione in Radiodiagnostica, Università degli Studi di Genova, Genova, Italy.
Riccardo
R
Sartoris
Dipartimento di Radiologia, Università degli Studi di Genova, IRCCS AOU San Martino IST, Genova, Italy.
Lorenzo Egildo
LE
Derchi
Dipartimento di Radiologia e Ecografia Interventistica, Ospedale Evangelico Internazionale, Genova, Italy.
Enzo
E
Silvestri
Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Jung Hwan
JH
Baek
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D016606:Thyroid Nodule / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface
Benign thyroid nodule; Radiofrequency ablation; Virtual needle tracking; Volume navigation