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Erschienen in:
07.08.2018 | Ultrasound
Role of second high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatment for unsatisfactory benign thyroid nodules after first treatment
Erschienen in: European Radiology | Ausgabe 3/2019
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Background
We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of second high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) ablation treatment in benign thyroid nodules that had failed to shrink by > 50% 6 months after the first treatment.
Methods
Twenty-eight patients who did not achieve 50% volume reduction at 6 months after the first HIFU treatment underwent a second HIFU treatment. Nodule volume was measured on ultrasound at baseline, 3 months and 6 months. Extent of nodule shrinkage (by volume reduction ratio) (VRR) = [Baseline volume – volume at 6 months]/[Baseline volume] * 100. Treatment success was defined as VRR > 50%. Obstructive symptom score (by 0–10 visual analogue scale, VAS) was evaluated for 6 months after treatment.
Results
No complications occurred after the second treatment. The mean 6-month VRR was 21.78 ± 16.87% with a median (range) of 16.16 (1.63–54.07)%. At 6 months, only two (7.1%) patients achieved treatment success, while nine (32.1%) patients had VRR < 10%. However, relative to baseline (3.96 ± 1.04), the mean VAS significantly improved at 3 and 6 months (2.96 ± 1.43, p<0.001 and 2.58 ± 1.39, p<0.001, respectively). There was a significant correlation between VRR and improvement in VAS score at 6 months (ρ=0.438, p=0.025). Greater nodule volume before the second treatment (OR=1.169, 95% CI=1.004–1.361, p=0.045) was a significant factor for greater VRR after the second treatment.
Conclusions
Although subjective obstructive symptoms continued to improve after the second treatment, the actual extent of nodule shrinkage was small. Larger-volume nodules tended to shrink more significantly than smaller-volume nodules in the second treatment.
Key Points
• Second treatment resulted in small shrinkage in unsatisfactory nodules after first treatment.
• Obstructive symptoms tended to continue to improve after second treatment.
• Larger-size nodules tended to respond better in the second treatment.