The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (2): 320-326.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.02.018

• Treatise: Clinical Practice • Previous Articles    

Comparison of the efficacy between lauromacrogol injection combined with microwave ablation and lauromacrogol injection alone for cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules

Yingchao CHEN1,Yi CHEN1,Jing CHENG1,Wen ZHANG2,Wenwen XIA3,Huaidong SONG4,Bing HAN1()   

  1. 1.Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism，Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital，Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine，Shanghai 200011，Shanghai，China
    2. Discipline Planning Office，Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital，Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine，Shanghai 200011，Shanghai，Chin
    3. Department of Pathology，Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital，Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine，Shanghai 200011，Shanghai，Chin
    4. The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research，Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital，Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine，Shanghai 200011，Shanghai，China
  • Received:2025-08-24 Revised:2025-11-26 Accepted:2025-11-28 Online:2026-01-25 Published:2026-01-22
  • Contact: Bing HAN E-mail:foxhb1423@126.com

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Abstract:

Objective Comparison of the treatment efficacy between percutaneous lauromacrogol injection （PLI） combined with microwave ablation （MWA） and PLI alone for cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed 90 cystic or predominantly cystic thyroid nodules that were treated with either PLI or PLI+MWA at Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital from January 2021 to March 2025. All cases were confirmed to be benign through preoperative ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration. The size of the nodules was assessed by ultrasound at 1， 3， and 6 months after treatment， and the volume reduction rate （VRR） was calculated. Results A total of 81 patients （90 nodules） were incorporated into the analysis， including 20 males （24 nodules） and 61 females （66 nodules）. Among these nodules， 59 received PLI treatment， whereas 31 underwent PLI + MWA. Both PLI and PLI + MWA treatments led to a significant reduction in the volume of thyroid nodules. Although the baseline nodule volumes in the PLI + MWA group were larger than those in the PLI group ［（17.27 ± 10.49） mL vs. （12.12 ± 11.03） mL， P = 0.033］， there were no significant differences in nodule volumes between the two groups at 1， 3， and 6 months after treatment ［（4.02 ± 7.95） mL vs. （7.47 ± 6.93） mL； （2.98 ± 6.31） mL vs. （2.43 ± 2.62） mL； （3.64 ± 8.82） mL vs. （1.09 ± 2.10） mL； all P > 0.05］. Furthermore， at the 3-month ［（14.77 ± 8.48） mL vs. （8.36 ± 9.24） mL， P = 0.025］ and 6-month ［（14.53 ± 6.86） mL vs. （4.79 ± 3.99） mL， P = 0.001］ follow-ups， the PLI + MWA treatment group showed a significantly greater reduction in nodule volume from the baseline compared to the PLI-only group. One month after treatment， the VRR in the PLI group was higher than that in the PLI + MWA group ［83.44% （66.97%， 93.07%） vs. 52.53% （17.62%， 90.66%）， P = 0.011］. However， six months after the operation， the VRR in the PLI + MWA group was significantly higher than that in the PLI group ［83.44% （66.97%， 93.07%） vs. 81.68% （58.43%， 96.96%）， P = 0.019］. Moreover， six months after treatment， the cure rate （VRR > 90%） in the PLI + MWA group was significantly higher than that in the PLI group （87.5% vs. 33.3%， P = 0.024）. Conclusions Both ultrasound-guided PLI and PLI + MWA are effective therapeutic modalities for benign thyroid nodules with cystic or predominantly cystic components. Significantly， at 6 months after treatment， PLI + MWA yielded notably superior therapeutic outcomes compared to PLI monotherapy.

Key words: thyroid nodules, microwave ablation, percutaneous lauromacrogol injection, volume reduction rate

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