Effect of Percutaneous Ethanol Injection to Treat Benign Thyroid Nodules under Ultrasonic Guidance

Objective:To investigate appropriate approaches of treating benign thyroid nodules using percutaneous ethanol injection(PEI) guided with ultrasonography,and the therapeutic effect was evaluated.Methods:Fifty patients with fifty-five benign thyroid nodules were treated with PEI.According to the changes of volume and blood supply of the nodules,the therapeutic effect was evaluated.Results: The recovery rate of the nodules under treatment was 32.7%(18/55) and the response rate was 94.5%(52/55).Better therapeutic effect was observed in the cases of solid cystic or cystic nodules,nodules with less or no blood supply and solid nodules with maximum diameter 3cm.The side effect of this method was slight.Conclusions: Employing PEI guided with ultrasonography to treat benign thyroid nodules has some advantages,such as accurate to orientate,easy to operate and satisfactory therapeutic effect,which is feasible in clinic.