Thyroid nodule morphology affects the efficacy of ultrasound-guided interstitial laser ablation: A nested case-control study

Figures & data

Table 1. Case summaries at start of study.

	Group 1	Group 2	p Value
n	20	20	–
Age (y)	56 (44–75)	55 (43–73)	0.654*
Sex (M/F)	7/13	7/13	1.000†
Volume of nodules (mL)	17.7 (11.5–32.5)	17.6 (10.2–32)	0.779*
Energy (J)	378 (341–400)	379 (352–402)	0.770*

Data are expressed as median (min–max).

*Student’s t-test; † χ² test.

Figure 1. Volume of conglomerates and nodules (mean ± SD) expressed as mL^λ to approximate normal distribution (Box–Cox λ = 0.4), subdivided according to months of follow-up. RM ANOVA: within-subject factor (time) p = 0.002; between-subjects factor (group) p < 0.0001; interaction time/energy, p = 0.088).

Table 2. Mixed RM ANOVA.

Main effect	Sum of squares	df	Mean square	F	p Value
Time	3.549	2	1.775	6.993	0.002
Interactions
Time × group	15.459	2	7.729	30.458	<0.0001
Time × energy	1.274	2	0.637	2.510	0.088
Error (time)	18.779	74	0.254

Table 3. Results.

	Group 1	Group 2	p Value
n	20	20	–
Volume of nodules (mL)  at baseline	17.7 (11.5–32.5)	17.6 (10.2–32)	0.779*
Volume of nodules (mL)  at 6 months	8.7 (2.4–23)	10.2 (6–21)	0.220*
Volume of nodules (mL)  at 1 year	5.3 (1.8–12.5)	11.4 (6.3–23)	<0.0001*

Data are expressed as median (min–max).

*Student’s t-test.