PURPOSE The aim of the present study was to retrospectively evaluate the efficacy of interstitial laser photocoagulation (ILP) ablation of thyroid nodules during a 6-year follow-up period and to identify possible predictors of the final outcome. METHODS Forty-three outpatients (38 women) were assigned to ILP therapy. The study group included euthyroid patients with benign thyroid nodules. Thyroid size, nodule volume and features, and autoimmune test were collected at baseline. Patients underwent US control after the ILP procedure and 1 month, 6 months, 12 months later and then annually. RESULTS During the follow-up, two distinct groups of patients emerged: the responders (N = 33) and the non-responder (N = 10) ones to ILP. In the responder group, the nodule volume significantly decreased during the follow-up, but a trend toward a slight increase in nodule volume was recorded up to the end of follow-up. No significant decrease in nodule volume was observed in the non-responder group. Neither baseline clinical nor demographic features were significantly different between responders and non-responders groups. In the whole group of patients, the energy delivered per mL of nodule tissue was significantly correlated with the percent volume decrease at the end of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Interstitial laser photocoagulation is a safe technique able to reduce byabout 50% the volume of benign thyroid nodules in the majority of treated patients. However, due to the great variability of results, an active follow-up is required. The only independent predictor of ILP outcome is the energy delivered per mL of nodule tissue.

中文翻译：

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甲状腺结节的激光光凝治疗：长期结果和疗效预测指标。

目的本研究的目的是回顾性评估在6年的随访期间甲状腺结节间质激光光凝（ILP）消融的疗效，并确定最终结果的可能预测指标。方法43位门诊病人（38名妇女）被分配进行ILP治疗。该研究组包括患有甲状腺良性结节的甲状腺功能正常的患者。在基线时收集甲状腺大小，结节体积和特征以及自身免疫测试。在ILP程序后以及1个月，6个月，12个月后，然后每年进行患者US对照。结果在随访期间，出现了两组不同的患者：对ILP的反应者（N = 33）和无反应者（N = 10）。在应答组中，结节体积在随访期间显着减少，但是直到随访结束，结节量才有轻微增加的趋势。在无反应组中未观察到结节体积显着减少。应答者和非应答者组之间的基线临床特征和人口统计学特征均无显着差异。在整个患者组中，每毫升结节组织传递的能量与随访结束时体积减少百分比显着相关。结论间隙激光光凝术是一种安全的技术，能够在大多数接受治疗的患者中减少约50％的甲状腺良性结节。但是，由于结果的差异很大，因此需要积极的随访。ILP结局的唯一独立预测因子是每毫升结节组织传递的能量。