Cooled microwave ablation of thyroid nodules: Initial experience.

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Minimally Invasive Procedures
• Oncology

Background:

• Thyroid nodules are common, requiring effective treatment options.
• Benign and malignant thyroid nodules can cause symptoms necessitating intervention.
• Minimally invasive techniques are sought for thyroid nodule management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the safety and efficacy of internally cooled microwave ablation (cMWA) for thyroid nodules.
• To evaluate cMWA in treating both benign and malignant thyroid conditions.

Main Methods:

• Nine patients with 11 benign and 1 malignant thyroid nodules underwent cMWA.
• Pain, side effects, nodule elasticity, blood circulation, and echogenicity were assessed.
• Serum thyroglobulin (Tg) levels were measured pre- and post-ablation.

Main Results:

• All patients tolerated cMWA well with low reported pain (median 2.1/10).
• No significant complications like hoarseness or dysphagia occurred; hematoma was noted in all cases.
• cMWA significantly improved nodule elasticity and decreased blood circulation and echogenicity (p<0.05).

Conclusions:

• Internally cooled microwave ablation (cMWA) is a safe and effective treatment for thyroid nodules.
• The procedure demonstrates significant positive changes in nodule characteristics.
• cMWA presents a viable therapeutic option for symptomatic thyroid nodules.