Ultrasonography.  2022 Jul;41(3):473-479. 10.14366/usg.21211.

Technical feasibility and efficacy of a standard needle magnetization system for ultrasound needle guidance in thyroid nodule-targeting punctures: a phantom study

• Lee H
• Cho YJ
• Ha EJ
• Moon J
• Kim YN
• Kim M
• Lee KM
• An SH

• KMID: 2531435
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.14366/usg.21211

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and efficacy of an ultrasound needle guidance system (NGS) based on standard needle magnetization in a phantom study of thyroid nodule (TN)-targeting punctures.
Methods
Six trainees and a staff radiologist performed TN-targeting punctures with or without the NGS in phantom models (group 1, experience <50 cases; group 2, experience ≥50 cases and <100 cases; group 3, experience ≥100 cases of TN-targeting punctures). The feasibility, technical success rate, number of punctures, and procedure time were recorded.
Results
The feasibility of NGS was 98.6% (138/140). In group 1, the technical success rate increased from 60.0%±8.2% to 80.0%±8.2% when the NGS was used (P=0.046), with a reduction in the number of punctures from 2.2 to 1.2 (P=0.005). In group 2, the rate changed from 95.0%±5.8% to 100.0%±0.0% with the NGS (P=0.157), with a minimal decrease in the number of punctures from 1.1 to 1.0 (P=0.157). The procedure time significantly decreased in both groups (P=0.041 and P=0.010, respectively) when the NGS was used. In group 3, there were no significant differences in the technical success rate and the number of punctures according to whether the NGS was used (P=0.317 and P=0.317, respectively).
Conclusion
NGS using standard needle magnetization is technically feasible and has potential to improve the efficacy of TN-targeting punctures for less-experienced operators, especially beginners, according to the findings of this phantom study.

Keyword

Fine-needle aspiration; Needle guidance; Thyroid nodule; Ultrasound