Prevalence and Management of Complications of Laser Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules
Authors' conclusion
LA for benign and noncystic STNs can be considered a generally safe technique. Major complications are rare.
Study context
- Population
- Benign solid (noncystic) thyroid nodules treated with percutaneous laser ablation38 studies + institutional data
- Participants
- 4,745 participants
- Outcome
- Prevalence of complications of laser ablation (LA)
Methodological detailsrandom effects meta-analysis, includes author institutional data, Overall quality of included studies judged fair
- Random effects meta-analysis
- Includes author institutional data
- Overall quality of included studies judged fair
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Overall complications (1208 of 4702 TNs; I2 93.7%)
23%
CI, 17%–30%
Minor complications (1159 of 4702 TNs; I2 93.7%)
21%
CI, 15%–27%
Major complications (49 of 4745 TNs; I2 54.0%)
2%
CI, 1%–3%
Further pooled results
Sensitivity analyses: dysphonia by anaesthesia type
- Dysphonia with local anesthesia (I2 25.2; P = .010)
- 2% (CI, 1%-3%)
- Dysphonia with conscious sedation (I2 27.2; P = .014)
- 2% (CI, 1%-4%)
- Sensitivity analyses did not modify the results, except for dysphonia
- Pooled prevalence higher with local anesthesia or conscious sedation
Safety
Local pain
- Pooled prevalence of local pain (I2 89.3)
- 15% (CI, 12%-20%)
- Transient, typically mild to moderate, sometimes severe; analgesics for 1 to 5 days up to 1 month
Dysphonia
- Pooled prevalence of dysphonia (I2 30.3)
- 2% (CI, 1%-2%)
- Permanent dysphonia; all other cases transient
- 1 case
Original publication
Prevalence and Management of Complications of Laser Ablation for Benign Thyroid Nodules. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. Published 20 February 2025. doi:10.
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