Long-Term Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Laser Ablation for Low-Risk Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study

Figure 1

Representative ultrasound images of a PTMC nodule in the left thyroid lobe of a 32-year-old woman before and after ultrasound-guided PLA. (a) Before PLA, the hypoechoic nodule measured in size and 42.7 mm³ in volume. (b) The laser fiber was inserted into the nodule through the guide needle, and the ablation was started at an output power of 3 W. Immediately, the nodule was completely covered by a patchy hyperecho gasification area. (c) One hour after PLA, the ablation area measured , covering an area larger than the original area of the nodule. (d) One hour after PLA, no contrast agent filled the ablated region on CEUS, indicating complete ablation. (e) At 3 months after PLA, the ablation area was decreased to . (f) At 6 months after PLA, the ablation area had been completely absorbed. No recurrence or lymph node metastasis was found during 5 years of follow-up.

(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

(e)

(f)