Percutaneous Ultrasound-guided Padiofrequency Ablation for Solitary Benign Nodular Thyroid Disease: Preliminary Report

Abstract

Percutaneous Ultrasound-guided Padiofrequency Ablation for Solitary Benign Nodular Thyroid Disease: Preliminary Report

Warurt                 Manosittisak                      MD*

Jesada                 Suvikrom                            MD**

Wallaya               Jongjaroenprasert           MD***

*Endocrinology Unit, Department of Medicine, BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital

**Radiodiagnostic Unit, Department of Radiology, Ramathibodi Hospital

***Endocrinology and Metabolism Unit, Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital

Objective: To determine the preliminary results of percutaneous radiofrequency ablation in reducing the volume of solitary benign nodular thyroid lesions.

Study design: Case series.

Subjects: Five euthyroid patients with solitary solid thyroid nodule and benign cytological finding attending Endocrine Clinic, Department of Medicine, and Ramathibodi Hospital during January 2004 to June 2005 were selected

Methods: All patients underwent one session of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA). After infiltrating local anesthetic agent, a 18-gauge needle with 1.5-inch length was inserted into the thyroid nodule. Then, an

electrode was placed through the needle into the lesion. RFA was applied with an output power of 5 W for 10-15 minutes to obtain the internal temperature of 90^o C. The result of RFA was evaluated by measuring the volume with ultrasonography at 1 month, 4 months and 6 months after treatment. Procedure-related complications were also recorded.

Main outcome measures: Volume of thyroid nodule before and after treatment, procedure-related complication.

Results: There were four females and one male with the mean age of 46.8 years. Nodule volume ranged from 7.7 to 27.9 cm³. Mean volume before and 6 moth after treatment in all cases were 13.7: 11.8, 14.1: 13.1, 27.9: 9.9, 9.9: 4.3 and 7.7: 1.5 cm³ respectively. The size decreased with the range of 7.5-80.2% comparing with before treatment. The reduction in size could be observed at1 month after treatment in all cases.  There was no procedure-related complication.

Conclusion: In this preliminary result, RFA decreased the volume of solitary benign thyroid nodular diseases without any complication within 6 months after treatment.

Key word: benign thyroid nodule, radiofrequency ablation, volume

Vajira Med J 2006 ; 50 : 145 - 151