This study will evaluate the clinical response and safety of ultrasound guided percutaneous cryoablation in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules as an alternative to the surgery. Ablation of functioning or non-functioning benign thyroid nodules with cryoablation will be directed to patients with symptomatic benign thyroid lesions (two benign cytological examinations) measuring between 5 and 65 mL of volume and less than 40% of cystic component; patients must present with serum free thyroxine (T4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) between the normal range values, with no signs of thyroiditis by serum antibodies over 100% of the standard values; calcitonin levels in the normal range values. Cryoablation will be directed to patients in a non-randomized fashion. Clinical, laboratorial and imaging monitoring will be performed in 12 months, including contrast-enhanced ultrasound when indicated, by 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
Palpable nodular thyroid disease is common in up to 6.4% of the population, and it becomes more common when the thyroid is examined by ultrasound. The vast majority of nodules are benign and, over time, do not change considerably in size. The main treatment indications for a euthyroid patient with a benign thyroid nodule that is not hyperfunctioning are compression of the trachea or esophagus, growth of the nodule, and recurrence of a cystic nodule after aspiration. Other indications for treatment are neck discomfort, cosmetic concern, and patient anxiety about the lump. The main therapeutic options are surgery (unilateral lobectomy) and treatment with thyroxine. Thermal ablative therapy has become a treatment option for solid thyroid lesions, with extensive reports in the medical literature on safety and efficacy with laser and radiofrequency devices, including long-term follow-up studies (10 years). There is no record in the medical literature of the use of cryoablation devices for the ablation of benign thyroid nodules, although they are used for the treatment of tumor lesions in different sites (hepatic, renal, pulmonary, bone and cervical lymph nodes).The objective of this research is to evaluate, in a pilot study, the safety and efficacy of cryoablation in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
10
Single session with an argon-based cryoablation device; an specific applicator will be used for the treatments; gas release 100% for cryoablation; local anesthesia or moderate sedation or general anesthesia at discretion of the anesthesiology / interventional radiology team; benign thyroid nodules (two benign cytological examinations) measuring between 5 and 65 mL of volume and less than 40% of cystic component;
University of Sao Paulo General Hospital
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
evaluation of technical feasibility
Defined as the ability to puncture the nodule and perform the ablation as preoperatively planned.
Time frame: immediately after ablation
2) Incidence of adverse events secondary to the treatment (safety and tolerability) of thermal ablation of benign thyroid nodules
Evaluation of minor and major complication rates, immediately after and 1 month after ablation \[designed as a safety measure: yes\]. The safety endpoint for this study is to evaluate the incidence and severity of the procedure or device-related adverse events, as reported by the CTCAE V5.2017.
Time frame: up to 4 weeks after ablation
Evaluation of technical success
Technical success is defined as to achieve a nodular volume ablation of 50% at 12-month follow up compared to baseline. Nodule volume measurement is performed with the ellipsoid formula: length x width x depth x 0.524.
Time frame: ultrasound examinations 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after ablation
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