Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Thyroid nodules are extremely common. By age 60, about one-half of all people have a thyroid nodule. Cryoablation is used in a variety of clinical applications, using hollow needles (cryoprobes). Cryoprobes are inserted into or placed adjacent to diseased tissue which is desired to be ablated.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of Cryoablation on the size & function of thyroid nodule, which may replace the need for surgery or radiotherapy.

Patients and methods: This is an interventional therapeutic study, conducted in Ain-Shams University hospitals; endocrinology clinic. Our study sample included 80 subjects, age between 20 & 60, having thyroid nodule diagnosed by ultrasound. Subjects were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 included 40 subjects ‘control group’ who were not subjected to cryoablation. Group 2 included 40 subjects ‘cases’ upon which cryoablation was done. Neck ultrasound were done for subjects & they were sampled for their TSH, free T4 & free T3 levels at start and after 3 & 6 months.

Results: There was high statistical significant difference between group 1 & group 2 regarding nodule size, after 6 months. Group 1 showed median nodule size after 6 months (0.85 cm) (IQR: 0.7–1.05)while cases showed (0.6 cm) (IQR: 0.3–0.9) (P-value 0.001). Females are more liable than males, to show nodule size reduction.

Conclusions: Cryoablation causes nodule size reduction, especially after 2nd session. Cryoablation does not affect thyroid function tests, all through our study.

Keywords: Cryotherapy, Thyroid nodule, Size reduction, TSH variation.