Ultrasound-guided Thermal Ablation for Bethesda III/IV Thyroid Nodules

Ultrasound-guided Thermal Ablation for Bethesda III/IV Thyroid Nodules: A Multicenter Study

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for Bethesda III/IV thyroid nodules

To evaluate and predict the long-term clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for Bethesda III/IV thyroid nodules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. confirmation of Bethesda III or IV on fine- needle aspiration and negative on Braf V600E test
2. no clinical or imaging evidences of extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis on ultrasound, neck and chest CT
3. refusal or ineligibility for surgery
4. follow-up time ≥12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. follicular neoplasm or malignancy findings on biopsy
2. no suspicious of malignancy in US
3. patients with contra-lateral vocal cord paralysis
4. follow- up time less than 12 months