Microwave Ablation Promising in Treating Hyperthyroidism with Thyroid Nodules: Study Finds
China: Microwave ablation (MWA) guided by ultrasound is emerging as a promising treatment for managing hyperthyroidism associated with benign thyroid nodules and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), according to a recent study published in Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology.
The research, led by Xizi Yan and colleagues from the Department of Interventional Ultrasound at the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing, evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of this minimally invasive approach over three years.
The retrospective study analyzed clinical data from 66 patients diagnosed with hyperthyroidism and thyroid nodules who underwent ultrasound-guided MWA between December 2009 and December 2024. Researchers assessed multiple outcome measures, including the complete remission rate of hyperthyroidism, tumor disappearance rates, and any complications related to the procedure. To ensure comparability between patients with benign nodules and those with PTC, the team employed propensity score matching, minimizing baseline differences and improving the reliability of the results.
Key Findings:
- At the 36-month follow-up, the complete remission rate of hyperthyroidism was 93.8% in patients with benign nodules and 62.5% in those with PTC.
- Tumor disappearance rates were 50% in the benign nodule group compared to 18.8% in the PTC group.
- These differences did not reach statistical significance but indicate potential advantages of MWA for benign thyroid disease.
- No cases of disease progression were observed in either group during the follow-up period.
- The procedure was not associated with any serious adverse events or major complications.
The researchers note that current treatment options for hyperthyroidism include antithyroid medications, radioactive iodine therapy, and surgical removal of the thyroid gland. Each of these standard approaches has its own limitations, such as the risk of side effects, invasiveness, and the potential for hypothyroidism or disease recurrence. MWA, on the other hand, offers a less invasive alternative that directly targets the affected thyroid tissue, reducing its functional volume and subsequently alleviating the symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The underlying mechanism of MWA is considered similar to that of other thermal ablation techniques traditionally used for benign thyroid conditions.
The study’s authors emphasize that while the results are encouraging, additional research is needed. Multicenter, randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes and extended follow-up periods will be essential to validate these findings and establish standardized protocols. Such efforts will help determine whether MWA can be adopted as a mainstream therapeutic option for patients with hyperthyroidism linked to benign or malignant thyroid nodules.
"Overall, these findings highlight the potential role of ultrasound-guided MWA as a safe and effective alternative for patients seeking minimally invasive treatment options, particularly those who are unsuitable for or unwilling to undergo conventional therapies," the authors concluded.
Reference:
Yan X, Liu F, Wang S, Liang P, Yu J, Han Z, Cheng Z, Dou J, Tan S, Li J, Wang Z, Shu Q, Zhang L, Yu X. Efficacy of Microwave Ablation in the Treatment of Hyperthyroidism With Benign/Malignant Nodules. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2025 Aug 22:S0301-5629(25)00297-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2025.07.027. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40849275.
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