Microwave ablation of thyroid nodules and metastatic thyroid cervical lymph nodes: the first case series from Ecuador.

Abstract

Microwave ablation (MWA) has emerged as a minimally invasive technique, transforming the therapeutic landscape for benign thyroid nodules (BTN), papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), and cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM). This study aims to present the first experience in Ecuador using MWA. We included adults undergoing MWA for BTN, PTMC, and CLNM between September 2022 and April 2023. Descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test were used to compare some pre- and post-intervention outcomes. Fourteen patients (11 BTN, one PMTC, and two CLNM) were included. Most were female (86%; mean age 48.92 years) and euthyroid (73%). Most nodules were solid (92%). The volume reduction (VR) of BTN was 98% at 12-months. The PTMC nodule disappeared and the CLNM mean volume reduced to 0.03 at 12 months. These findings highlight MWA as a potential treatment for various thyroid pathologies, warranting further exploration and validation in larger cohorts.