Inter- and Intraobserver Agreement in the Assessment of Thyroid Nodule Ultrasound Features and Classification Systems: A Blinded Multicenter Study.

Single-center trials demonstrated moderate-substantial level of interobserver agreement in the evaluation of ultrasound (US) features of thyroid nodules. Multicenter studies on US agreement, however, are scanty, and data on intraobserver agreement are poor. Aim of the study was to assess inter- and intraobserver agreement between different thyroid centers and different specialists.

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided laser ablation is effective for treating selected nodal metastases in papillary thyroid cancer.

Context: Mini-invasive procedures may be useful for control of local neck nodal metastases of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in high-risk patients.

Objective: Our objective was to assess the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided laser ablation (LA) for nonsurgical treatment of small-size neck metastases of PTC.

Design And Setting: We conducted a pilot study on a surgically controlled metastasis, followed by a prospective trial with a 12-month follow-up.

Ultrasound-guided laser ablation of incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a potential therapeutic approach in patients at surgical risk.

Background: Incidental papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), a frequent clinical problem, is usually associated with a favorable outcome. During long-term follow-up, only a minority of cases show aggressive behavior with either lymph node or distant metastases. Recently, we had an opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of nonsurgical, ultrasound (US)-guided percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) for local treatment of PTMC in an otherwise inoperable patient.

Treatment of benign cold thyroid nodules: a randomized clinical trial of percutaneous laser ablation versus levothyroxine therapy or follow-up.

Aim Of The Study: To compare clinical and ultrasound (US) changes induced in cold thyroid nodules by US-guided percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) versus follow-up or levothyroxine (LT4) suppressive therapy.

Methods: 62 patients randomly assigned to a single PLA (Group 1), LT4 (Group 2), or follow-up (Group 3). Entry criteria: euthyroid patients with a solid thyroid nodule >5 mL and benign cytological findings.

Analysis of factors predicting survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma treated with percutaneous laser ablation.

Background/aims: The factors which predict the long-term outcome in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who are treated with percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) are not well established.

Methods: We prospectively analyzed treatment and survival parameters of 148 cirrhotic patients with nonsurgical hepatocellular carcinoma who had undergone PLA at a single institution during an 11-year period.

Results: Single tumors were seen in 129 of 148 (87%) patients, and 2-3 nodules were seen in 19 (13%) patients, for a total of 169 tumors.

Percutaneous laser ablation in patients with isolated unresectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer: Results of a phase II study.

We prospectively evaluated the safety, local tumor control, and impact on survival parameters of percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) in patients with colorectal liver metastases not amenable to surgical resection. The study included 44 individuals with 75 unresectable liver metastases and no known extrahepatic disease. The median number of metastases treated for each patient was one, with a range of 1-4.