Percutaneous Laser Ablation of Unifocal Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Utility of Conventional Ultrasound and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound in Assessing Local Therapeutic Response.

Purpose: To investigate the use of conventional ultrasound and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in assessing local therapeutic response of percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).

Methods: Sixty-four patients with 64 PTMCs who were referred to our hospital from November 2013 to July 2016 were treated with PLA. The extent of ablation was assessed by CEUS at 10-20 min and 7 days after PLA. The size and volume of the ablation zone were evaluated on conventional ultrasound at 1 h, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months, and every half-year thereafter, and recurrences were also recorded. Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the ablated area was performed at 1, 6 and 12 months after PLA.

Results: Two incomplete ablations were detected by CEUS, and a second ablation was performed. The mean largest diameter and volume of the ablated area on CEUS at 10-20 min and 7 days after PLA were significantly larger than those of pre-treatment on conventional ultrasound (p < 0.05, for both). At the last follow-up, the mean largest diameter was reduced from 4.6 ± 1.5 to 0.6 ± 1.3 mm (p < 0.0.5), and the average volume was 41.0 ± 40.4 mm, which decreased to 1.8 ± 6.7 mm (p < 0.0.5). A cervical metastatic lymph node was detected on ultrasound and confirmed by ultrasound-guided FNAB at 30 months after PLA.

Conclusions: CEUS could play a crucial role in assessing the completeness of PLA for treating PTMC, and conventional ultrasound can not only guide the FNAB process but also is important in the follow-up of PTMC after PLA.