# Clinical analysis of ultrasound‐guided microwave ablation for pediatric thyroid nodules‐ a single center research

## TL;DR

This study shows that microwave ablation is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for reducing the size of benign thyroid nodules in children.

## Contribution

The study provides clinical evidence for the use of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation in treating pediatric thyroid nodules.

## Key findings

- Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation significantly reduced thyroid nodule volume in children.
- The treatment was safe with no major complications and minimal impact on thyroid function.
- Operation time was short, with minimal bleeding and pain, and no aesthetic issues reported.

## Abstract

To provide a new minimally invasive treatment for children with benign thyroid nodules, and to provide clinical data for applying microwave ablation (MWA) to children. A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 21 pediatric patients with benign thyroid nodules who underwent ultrasound‐guided MWA at the Children's Hospital affiliated with Chongqing Medical University from July 2022 to August 2023. The safety, clinical efficacy, volume reduction ratio and prognostic value of the treatment were evaluated. The participants were followed for at least 4 months (median 7 months, range 4–16 months). The average (range) ablation time for the 21 patients was only(233.90 ± 184.97) (40–660)seconds, with intraoperative bleeding less than 0.5 mL. No complications such as hoarseness, seizures or coughing during drinking water were observed after ablation treatment. All the participants' hormone reflecting thyroid function remained in the normal ranges after treatment. Besides, these hormones at 12 h after surgery and 1 month after surgery were not statistically different from those before surgery. Immediate postoperative ultrasound imaging showed a significant decrease in volume of benign thyroid nodules, the volume of nodules at 1 month postoperatively (M, 1.39), and the volume of nodules at 4 months postoperatively (M, 0.40) significantly smaller than that before surgery (M, 4.94). Ultrasound‐guided MWA is a new option for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules in children, with advantages such as minimal invasiveness, good clinical effect, high safety, little damage to thyroid function, short operation time, less intraoperative bleeding, low pain sensation and aesthetic appearance.

Microwave ablation (MWA) is a minimally invasive treatment method for pediatric thyroid nodules. Our study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of MWA in reducing the size of these nodules. MWA utilizes microwave energy to destroy abnormal thyroid tissue, resulting in nodule shrinkage and symptom relief. Our findings demonstrate significant volume reduction and high safety of MWA treatment. It effectively reduces nodules, alleviates symptoms of airway and esophageal compression, and preserves thyroid function. MWA offers a minimally invasive approach, minimizing hospitalization and recovery time. Our study concludes that MWA is a promising treatment option for pediatric thyroid nodules, providing a safe and effective choice for affected children. Further research is required to evaluate long‐term outcomes and compare it with other treatment modalities.