Helle Døssing

Ultrasound-Guided Interstitial Laser Photocoagulation of an Autonomous Thyroid Nodule: The Introduction of a Novel Alternative

Radioiodine ((131)I) and surgery are the standard therapeutic options for the solitary autonomous thyroid nodule (AFTN). Percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) has proven to be an effective technique and possible alternative to the conventional treatment options. However, PEI is not devoid of side effects and often necessitates multiple treatment sessions. We present a case of a 17-year-old female successfully treated with ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) for an AFTN. Initially, she had a serum thyrotropin (TSH) of 0.01 mU/L and normal peripheral thyroid hormone levels. Scintigraphically it was a hot nodule with suppression of extranodular uptake, and ultrasonographically it was a solitary solid 8.2-mL nodule. One treatment session (3 W for 650 seconds [1950 J]) normalized serum thyrotropin (TSH) level within 2 months and decreased the nodule volume to 4.9 mL (40% reduction) without further alterations during an additional 9 months of follow-up. Side effects were transient thyrotoxicosis and local pain as seen with PEI. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of ILP used in a patient with a pretoxic thyroid nodule. US-guided thermic tissue coagulation with ILP could become a useful alternative for the AFTN in patients who cannot or will not undergo surgery or treatment with (131)I.

Long-term outcome following interstitial laser photocoagulation of benign cold thyroid nodules

AIM To evaluate the long-term efficacy of interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) in solitary benign thyroid nodules. DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 78 euthyroid outpatients (45 participating in randomized trials) with a benign solitary solid and scintigraphically cold thyroid nodule causing local discomfort were assigned to ILP. ILP (using one laser fiber) was performed under continuous ultrasound (US) guidance and with an output power of 1.5-3.5  W. Thyroid nodule volume was assessed by US and thyroid function determined by routine assays, before and during follow-up. Pressure symptoms and cosmetic complaints were evaluated on a visual analogue scale (0-10  cm). Of the total patients, six had thyroid surgery 6 months after ILP and three were lost to follow-up. The median follow-up for the remaining 69 patients was 67 months (range 12-114). RESULTS The overall median nodule volume decreased from 8.2  ml (range 2.0-25.9) to 4.1  ml (range 0.6-33.0; P<0.001) at the final evaluation, corresponding to a median reduction of 51% (range: -194 to 95%). This correlated with a significant decrease in pressure as well as cosmetic complaints. After 12--96 months (median 38 months) of ILP, 21 patients (29%) had thyroid surgery because of an unsatisfactory result. All had benign histology. Thyroid function was unaltered throughout and side effects were restricted to mild local pain. CONCLUSION US-guided ILP results in a satisfactory long-term clinical response in the majority of patients with a benign solitary solid cold thyroid nodule. Further large-scale studies should aim at optimizing selection criteria for ILP, preferably in randomized studies.

Randomized prospective study comparing a single radioiodine dose and a single laser therapy session in autonomously functioning thyroid nodules

OBJECTIVE To compare the efficacy of interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) with radioiodine in hot thyroid nodules. DESIGN Thirty consecutive outpatients with subclinical or mild hyperthyroidism and a scintigraphically solitary hot nodule with extraglandular suppression were randomized to either one ILP session or one radioiodine ((131)I) dose. METHODS ILP was performed under continuous ultrasound-guidance and with an output power of 2.5-3.5 W. (131)I was given as a single dose based on thyroid volume and a 24-h thyroid (131)I uptake. Thyroid function and nodule volume were evaluated at inclusion and at 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. RESULTS Normalization of serum TSH was achieved in 7 out of 14 patients in the ILP group and in all 15 patients in the (131)I group (P=0.0025). In the ILP group, mean thyroid nodule volume reduction was 44+/-5% (s.e.m.; P<0.001), and in the (131)I group 47+/-8% (P<0.001), within 6 months, without between-group difference (P=0.73). The mean reduction of total thyroid volume was 7+/-5% in the ILP group (P=0.20) and 26+/-8% (P=0.006) in the (131)I group (P=0.06 between-group). Two patients in the (131)I group developed hypothyroidism but no major side effects were seen. CONCLUSIONS This first randomized study, comparing ILP with standard therapy, demonstrates that ILP and (131)I therapy approximately halves thyroid nodule volume within 6 months; but in contrast to (131)I, extranodular thyroid volume is unaffected by ILP and no patient developed hypothyroidism. Using the present design, ILP seems inferior to (131)I therapy in normalization of serum TSH. The potential value of ILP as a non-surgical alternative to (131)I needs further investigation.

Comparative Efficacy of Radiofrequency and Laser Ablation for the Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules: Systematic Review Including Traditional Pooling and Bayesian Network Meta-analysis

PURPOSE To compare the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and laser ablation (LA) for treatment of benign solid thyroid nodules, using a systematic review including traditional pooling and Bayesian network meta-analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive literature search in PubMed-MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases identified prospective studies evaluating the percentage mean change [absolute mean change (mL)] in nodule volume after RFA or LA. Studies from January 1, 2000, to November 1, 2013, were included. Review of 128 potential papers, including a full-text review of 33, identified 10 eligible papers covering a total of 184 patients for meta-analysis. The percentage mean change [absolute mean change] in nodule volume over a 6-month follow-up was compared between RFA and LA. RESULTS Based on the traditional frequentist approach, the pooled percentage mean changes (95% confidence interval) of RFA and LA were 76.1% (70.1-82.1) and 49.9% (41.4-58.5), respectively, and the pooled absolute mean changes (95% confidence interval) of RFA and LA were 8.9 mL (6.6-11.2) and 5.2 mL (4.3-6.1), respectively. Based on the Bayesian network meta-analysis, RFA achieved a larger pooled percentage mean change (95% credible interval) and absolute mean change (95% credible interval) compared to LA [77.8% (67.7-88.0) vs 49.5% (26.7-72.4), and 9.2 mL (5.8-11.9) vs 5.3 mL (2.1-8.5), respectively]. The RFA group has the highest probability of having the most efficacious treatment (98.7%). There were no major complications after either RFA or LA. CONCLUSIONS RFA appears to be superior to LA in reducing benign solid thyroid nodule volume, despite the smaller number of treatment sessions without major side effects.

The advent of ultrasound-guided ablation techniques in nodular thyroid disease: towards a patient-tailored approach.

Surgery is the long-established therapeutic option for benign thyroid nodules, which steadily grow and become symptomatic. The cost of thyroid surgery, the risk of temporary or permanent complications, and the effect on quality of life, however, remain relevant concerns. Therefore, various minimally invasive treatments, directed towards office-based management of symptomatic nodules, without requiring general anaesthesia, and with negligible damage to the skin and cervical tissues, have been proposed during the past two decades. Today, ultrasound-guided percutaneous ethanol injection and thermal ablation with laser or radiofrequency have been thoroughly evaluated, and are accessible procedures in specialized centres. In clinical practice, relapsing thyroid cysts are effectively managed with percutaneous ethanol injection treatment, which should be considered therapy of choice. In solid non-functioning thyroid nodules that grow or become symptomatic, trained operators may safely induce, with a single session of laser ablation treatment or radiofrequency ablation, a 50% volume decrease and, in parallel, improve local symptoms. In contrast, hyperfunctioning nodules remain best treated with radioactive iodine, which results in a better control of hyperthyroidism, also in the long-term, and fewer side-effects. Currently, minimally invasive treatment is also investigated for achieving local control of small size neck recurrences of papillary thyroid carcinoma in patients who are poor candidates for repeat cervical lymph node dissection. This particular use should still be considered experimental.

Interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) of benign cystic thyroid nodules--a prospective randomized trial

CONTEXT Recurrence rate, after aspiration, in cystic thyroid nodules is very high. Interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) is a minimally invasive procedure that reduces the need for surgery in patients with a benign solid thyroid nodule. OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of ILP on remission rates in recurrent, predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. DESIGN AND METHODS Forty-four consecutive outpatients with a symptomatic, recurrent, and cytologically benign cystic (cyst volume ≥ 2 mL) thyroid nodule were randomized to a single aspiration with (n = 22) or without (n = 22) subsequent ILP and followed up after 1, 3, and 6 months. RESULTS Successful outcome (cyst volume ≤ 1 mL) was obtained in 15 of 22 (68%) patients in the ILP group, compared to 4 of 22 (18%) in the aspiration group (P = .002). In the ILP group, the solid part of the nodule was reduced from a median of 1.8 to 1.0 mL (P = .02). In the aspiration-alone group, neither the cyst volume nor the solid nodule volume was significantly reduced. The reduction in median visual analog score (0-10 cm) for pressure symptoms was significantly higher in the ILP group (from 3.0 to 0.0 cm) than in the aspiration-alone group (from 4.0 to 3.5 cm) (P = .006, between groups). No major side effects occurred, and thyroid function was unaffected throughout. CONCLUSIONS US-guided aspiration and subsequent ILP of benign recurrent predominantly cystic thyroid nodules is safe. It significantly reduces recurrence rate, the volume of the solid nodule component, and pressure symptoms. ILP constitutes an important alternative to surgery in such patients.

Quality of life after thyroidectomy in patients with nontoxic nodular goiter: A prospective cohort study

Using the thoroughly validated Thyroid‐Related Quality‐of‐Life Patient‐Reported Outcome (ThyPRO) questionnaire, the purpose of this study was to investigate changes in disease‐specific quality of life (QOL) after surgical treatment in patients with benign nontoxic multinodular goiters.

Thyroidectomy Improves Tracheal Anatomy and Airflow in Patients with Nodular Goiter: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective: A large goiter may cause compression of the trachea. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of thyroidectomy on tracheal anatomy and airflow and to correlate this with changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with benign nodular goiter. Methods: Magnetic resonance images of the neck and respiratory flow-volume curves, including both inspiration and expiration, were performed prior to and 6 months following surgery. HRQoL was measured by selected scales from the thyroid-specific patient-reported outcome (ThyPRO). Cohen’s effect size (ES) was calculated as mean change divided by standard deviation at baseline. ES of 0.2–0.5 were defined as small, 0.5–0.8 as moderate, and values >0.8 as large. Results: Sixty-five patients completed all examinations. Median goiter volume was 58 mL (range, 14–642 mL) before surgery with surgical removal of a median of 43 g (range, 8–607 g). Six months after surgery, tracheal narrowing and deviation were diminished by a median of 26% (ES = 0.67, p < 0.001) and 33% (ES = 0.61, p < 0.001), respectively. Correspondingly, each 10% decrease in goiter volume resulted in 1.0% less tracheal narrowing (p < 0.001). Concomitantly, a small improvement was seen in forced inspiratory flow at 50% of forced vital capacity (ES = 0.32, p < 0.001). A reduction in tracheal narrowing was associated with improvements in the Impaired Daily Life scale (0.33 points per 1% decrease in tracheal narrowing, p = 0.03) of the ThyPRO questionnaire. Conclusions: In patients with symptomatic benign nodular goiter, thyroidectomy resulted in substantial improvements in tracheal anatomy and improvements in inspiratory flow, which were followed by gains in HRQoL. This information is pertinent when counseling patients before choice of treatment.

The Impact of Esophageal Compression on Goiter Symptoms before and after Thyroid Surgery

Introduction: Benign nodular goiter may be associated with swallowing difficulties, but insight into the associated pathophysiology is limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of surgery on the degree of esophageal compression, and its correlation to swallowing difficulties. Methods: Esophageal compression and deviation were evaluated blindly on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the neck, prior to and 6 months after thyroid surgery for symptomatic benign goiter. Goiter symptoms and swallowing difficulties were measured by the Goiter Symptom Scale of the Thyroid-Specific Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO) questionnaire. Cohen’s d was used for evaluating effect sizes (ES). Results: Sixty-four patients completed the study. Before surgery, median goiter volume was 57 (range 14–642) mL. The smallest cross-sectional area of the esophagus (SCAE) increased from a median of 95 (47–147) to 137 (72–286) mm2 (ES = 1.31, p < 0.001). Median esophagus width increased from 15 (range 10–21) to 17 (range 12–24) mm (ES = 0.94, p < 0.001) after surgery, while no statistically significant change was observed for the sagittal dimension (anterior-to-posterior), thus reflecting an increasingly ellipsoid esophageal shape. Median esophageal deviation decreased moderately after surgery from 4 (0–23) to 3 (0–10) mm (ES = 0.54, p = 0.005). The goiter symptom score improved considerably from (mean ± SD) 40 ± 21 to 10 ± 10 points (ES = 1.5, p < 0.001) after surgery, and the improvements were associated with improvements in SCAE (p = 0.03). Conclusions: In patients with goiter, thyroidectomy leads to substantial improvements in esophageal anatomy, as assessed by MRI, and this correlates with improved swallowing symptoms. This information is valuable in qualifying the dialogue with goiter patients, before deciding on the mode of therapy. Clinicaltrials.gov (NCT03072654).