[Evaluation the effects of percutaneous ethanol injection on the volume of benign solitary solid cold thyroid nodules].

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI) outcome might be depends on the morphological structure of cold colloid thyroid nodule. Some pathologists apply terms such as colloid or adenomatous nodules to lesions which are more or less localized with areas of apparently normal or altered architecture. PEI was performed in 34 patients (9 men and 25 women, who had a mean age of 41 years, with a range of 18-76) with normal thyroid function and a solid benign thyroid nodule. All patients had fine needle aspirations (FNAs) which resulted in a diagnosis of the presence of a colloid nodule and ruled out malignancy of the nodule. Patients who were treated with PEI were classified into two groups according to the structure of the colloid nodule: group A included 20 patients with colloid and group B - 14 patients with adenomatous nodules. The mean thyroid nodule volume in group A was 5,3 mL and in group B - 8,8 mL, respectively. Patients underwent 1-6 PEI sessions. A needle was positioned in the thyroid nodule with US guidance. Thyroid nodule volume was evaluated before and 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment. In the group A the mean thyroid nodule volume decreased from 5,3 mL to 1,9 mL (64%) and in the group B - from 8,8 mL to 2,5 mL (71) after 12 months. Differences in volume reductions were statistically significant (p<0,026). The treatment was well-tolerated in all patients. These results suggest that more significant effect was reached in group B (patients with adenomatous nodules) and therefore the outcome of the PEI depends on the morphological structure of cold colloid nodule.