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Thyroid cysts treated with ethanol ablation can mimic malignancy during sonographic follow‐up
Author(s) -
Park Noh Hyuck,
Kim Dong Wook,
Park Hee Jin,
Lee Eun Ja,
Park Ji Sung,
Park Sung Il,
Bae Jong Myon,
Lee Jun Hwa
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of clinical ultrasound
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.272
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1097-0096
pISSN - 0091-2751
DOI - 10.1002/jcu.20861
Subject(s) - medicine , thyroid nodules , vascularity , thyroid , malignancy , nodule (geology) , radiology , ultrasound , pathology , paleontology , biology
Purpose. We aimed to assess long‐term ultrasound (US) findings after US‐guided percutaneous ethanol ablation (EA) in benign thyroid cysts and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. Methods. Forty patients with thyroid cysts (n = 14) and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules (n = 26) underwent long‐term US follow‐up (range, 12–36 months; mean, 18.2 months) after EA. US images of 40 post‐EA nodules were retrospectively investigated to study the reduction in nodule volume and detailed US appearance. Results. On follow‐up US, post‐EA nodules showed the following features: Marked hypoechogenicity (n = 28), spiculated margin (n = 7), microcalcifications (n = 6), taller‐than‐wide shape (n = 2), centrally predominant vascularity (n = 3), no vascularity (n = 31), mixed vascularity (n = 3), and peripheral vascularity (n = 3). Post‐EA nodules were diagnosed by US as benign (n = 3), probably benign (n = 2), borderline (n = 5), possibly malignant (n = 20), and malignant (n = 10). No statistical difference in the incidence of malignant US findings was observed between thyroid cysts and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules ( p > 0.05, Fisher's exact test). Conclusions. Long‐term follow‐up US after successful EA of benign thyroid cysts and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules revealed a high incidence of findings that are usually associated with malignancy. Recognizing these consequences of the procedure would help avoid unnecessary FNA on post‐EA nodules. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2011;