Laser ablation for the treatment of nonfunctioning benign thyroid nodules: a single center, 10-year retrospective study.

PURPOSE

To evaluate the outcomes of symptomatic nonfunctioning benign thyroid nodules treated with laser ablation (LA) over a 10-year follow-up.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients treated with LA between January 2010 and December 2014 and followed for 10 years. The patient's nodule volume was recorded at baseline, after 6 months, and then annually from the date of the LA procedure. We assessed the volume reduction ratio (VRR), technique efficacy, regrowth rate, additional treatments (surgery or LA), and complications.

RESULTS

One hundred nine patients were included in the study cohort. The 1-year VRR was 56.3%; technique efficacy was detected in 76 of 109 patients (69.7%). Sixty-nine out of 109 (63.3%) patients did not require a second treatment (LA or surgery) and these 69/109 (63.3%) patients showed a stable VRR of 65%. Regrowth was observed in 28 of 109 (25.7%) patients. EU-TIRADS 2 category, intranodular vascularity, and delivered energy ≥500 J/mL prevented technique inefficacy, regrowth, and retreatment (LA or surgery). Transient complications occurred in 3 out of 109 (2.7%) patients.

CONCLUSION

In this 10-year follow-up study, benign thyroid nodules submitted to LA experienced a stable VRR of 65% in more than 60% of patients. To maximize VRR and technique efficacy, LA should be particularly used in EU-TIRADS 2 nodules with intranodular vascularity that should preferably receive ≥ 500 J/mL of energy.