4825. The Clinical Value of Shear Wave Elastography for Thyroid Nodules Treated With Microwave Ablation
Authors* Denotes Presenting Author
Man Lu *;
Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Shishi Wang;
Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
Objective:
Thermal ablation has been applied as an alternative to thyroid surgery for thyroid nodules. Coagulation necrosis occurs in thyroid nodules after ablation, and the ablation area presents as hypoechoic nodule with irregular margins, which sometimes are hard to distinguish from malignant ones. Shear wave elastography (SWE) has been used to differentiate benign and malignant thyroid nodules, but is rarely used to monitor the changes of nodules after ablation. The study aimed to investigate the clinical value of SWE for thyroid nodules treated with microwave ablation (MWA).
Materials and Methods:
The clinical data of 97 thyroid nodules treated with MWA between June 2021 and April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. All nodules were confirmed pathologically, and the maximum diameters of nodules were within 3 cm. SWE was performed to quantify the stiffness of nodules before and at 1, 3, and 6 months after ablation. Stiffness values between malignant and benign nodules before ablation and during the follow-up period were compared.
Results:
All nodules were completely ablated, and no severe complications occurred. The volume reduction rate (VRR) of thyroid nodules at 6 months after ablation were 73.6% (IQR: 48.3 - 89.4%). The stiffness value before ablation, and at 1, 3, and 6 months after ablation were (36.7 ± 9.5) KPa, (76.5 ± 10.2) KPa, (62.8 ± 11.4) KPa, and (46.9 ± 9.5) KPa, respectively (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The stiffness value peaked 1 month after ablation and then gradually decreased. The stiffness value at all time points after ablation were higher than before ablation (<em>P</em> < 0.05). The stiffness value of malignant nodules was higher than that of benign nodules before ablation (45.2 ± 9.7) KPa .vs (31.5 ± 7.2) KPa, t = 18.6, <em>P</em> < 0.05)], whereas there was no statistical difference after ablation (<em>P</em> > 0.05).
Conclusion:
SWE is a noninvasive, sensitive and repeatable technique which can be applied for follow up of thyroid nodules after ablation.
