Ricerc@Sapienza

Microwave ablation is a fast-growing hyperthermic treatment option for unresectable malignancies. From pioneering percutaneous microwave procedures to treat liver lesions, nowadays several new clinical indications are emerging. The spread of microwave ablation in clinical practice is growing alongside with the requirement for minimally-invasive procedures and, consequently, minimally invasive microwave applicators. Tri-axial structures and chokes have been proposed in the literature as techniques to improve the ablation performance of needle-shaped antennas.

Purpose: We compared the effectiveness of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) and radioiodine (RAI) to treat patients carrying toxic thyroid nodule (TTN). Normalization of serum thyrotropin (TSH) 1 year after treatment was the primary end-point; concurrent changes in nodules' volume and scintigraphic pattern were also evaluated as secondary end-points.

Background: Thermal ablation of thyroid nodules has gained momentum due to the possibility to avoid surgery. High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) allows thermal treatment by energy ultrasound beam inside the targeted zone. Aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of HIFU treatment using Beamotion mode without anesthesia. Methods: Since 2016, patients with normal thyroid function, benign thyroid nodules with diameter no larger than 4 cm, and presenting local discomfort and/or compressive symptoms were treated by HIFU. We performed Beamotion HIFU and did not use anesthesia.

Background: The non-surgical therapies of benign thyroid nodules are gaining momentum due to the possibility to reduce the nodule’s volume and avoid surgery. As the last technique introduced, high intensity focused ultrasound allows the thermal tissue treatment by directing energy inside the targeted nodule with no invasive instruments. In the present study we applied the Food and Drug Administration high intensity focused ultrasound simulator to in-silico phantom to evaluate the effects obtained by different acoustic powers. Methods: The simulated layers were water and thyroid tissue.

Background: High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is the last introduced thermal treatment of thyroid nodules. Here we evaluated the results at 24 months after HIFU. Methods: Since 2016, HIFU was considered as a therapeutic option at our institute in patients with benign thyroid nodules presenting local symptoms. We searched in our database all patients who had undergone thyroid HIFU and selected for the study only cases followed-up for at least 24 months after the treatment. Volume reduction rate (VRR) was evaluated. A reduction above 50% defined the success of HIFU.

Microwave Thermal Ablation (MTA) is a minimally invasive therapeutic technique aimed at destroying pathologic tissues through a very high temperature increase induced by the absorption of an electromagnetic field at microwave (MW) frequencies. Open problems, which are delaying MTA applications in clinical practice, are mainly linked to the extremely high temperatures, up to 120 °C, reached by the tissue close to the antenna applicator, as well as to the ability of foreseeing and controlling the shape and dimension of the thermally ablated area.

Thermal ablation treatments are gaining a lot of attention in the clinics thanks to their reduced invasiveness and their capability of treating non-surgical patients. The effectiveness of these treatments and their impact in the hospital's routine would significantly increase if paired with a monitoring technique able to control the evolution of the treated area in real-time. This is particularly relevant in microwave thermal ablation, wherein the capability of treating larger tumors in a shorter time needs proper monitoring.