J Korean Radiol Soc.  2008 Jan;58(1):21-28. 10.3348/jkrs.2008.58.1.21.

Long-term Follow-up Sonography of Benign Cystic Thyroid Nodules after a Percutaneous Ethanol Injection: The Incidence of Malignancy-mimicking Nodules

• Park JS
• Kim DW
• Eun CK
• Choi SJ
• Rho MH

• KMID: 1479144
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jkrs.2008.58.1.21

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of malignancy-mimicking sclerosed thyroid nodules, from long-term follow-up ultrasonography (US) after an US-guided percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We examined 86 benign cystic thyroid nodules from 80 patients. The nodules were classified into two groups based on whether an aspiration (Group A, n=26) or non-aspiration (Group B, n=60) of infused ethanol was performed. The final follow-up US over 12 months was performed in all patients.
RESULTS
Of the 86 nodules, the cystic portion of 82 (95.3%) cases, from 76 patients, completely disappeared subsequent to the first follow-up US (Group A, n=24, Group B, n=58) (Chi-square test, p>0.05). Moreover, 46 sclerosed thyroid nodules showed two or more of the 'five sonographic criteria' upon a follow-up US (Group A, n=13, 50.0%, Group B, n=32, 53.3%). A higher ratio of the cystic portion of the nodules was associated with a higher incidence of the 'five sonographic criteria' for malignancies detected via a follow-up US (p<0.01; Student's t-test).
CONCLUSION
For the long-term follow-up US, the 'five sonographic criteria' were observed in half the patients who received US-guided PEI. Also, by acknowledging the possibility that sonographic findings mimic a malignancy, since the sclerosed thyroid nodule, patients may avoid an unnecessary biopsy.

Keyword

Thyroid nodule; Ethanol sclerotherapy; Ultrasonography; Sclerotherapy

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Ethanol
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Hydrazines
Incidence
Sclerotherapy
Thyroid Gland
Thyroid Nodule
Ethanol
Hydrazines