Thyroid artery embolization to relieve compressive goiters.
Thyroid Artery Embolization for the Treatment of Compressive Goiters: a Prospective Cohort Study.
This will see if blocking blood flow to the thyroid (thyroid artery embolization) can safely shrink nodular goiters and relieve breathing or swallowing problems in adults who are ineligible for or decline surgery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Université de Sherbrooke Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Sherbrooke, Quebec) |
| Trial ID | NCT07360587 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a prospective, single-center interventional cohort that will perform thyroid artery embolization (TAE) in adults with symptomatic compressive nodular goiters who are ineligible for or prefer not to have surgery or ablation. Patients will be recruited in outpatient clinics by endocrinologists or otolaryngologists using convenience sampling and followed with standardized imaging and clinical assessments to measure symptom relief and safety over time. Inclusion requires TI-RADS 1–4 and specific Bethesda cytology criteria (Bethesda I/III on two biopsies or Bethesda II on one), and the study excludes TI-RADS 5, Bethesda IV–VI, uncontrolled severe hyperthyroidism, and major comorbidities that preclude endovascular procedures. There is no comparative control group; outcomes will be compared with historical data and prior retrospective series to better define expected results and safety profiles.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (18+) with symptomatic compressive nodular goiters who are ineligible for or decline surgical or ablative treatments and who meet TI-RADS 1–4 plus the study's Bethesda cytology criteria are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Patients with high-suspicion nodules (TI-RADS 5 or Bethesda IV–VI), uncontrolled severe hyperthyroidism, major comorbidities that prevent endovascular procedures, or minors are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, TAE could offer a less invasive option to reduce goiter size and relieve compression symptoms for patients who cannot or will not undergo surgery.
How similar studies have performed: Only a small number of retrospective and early prospective reports suggest symptom relief with TAE, so the approach has emerging but limited supporting evidence.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient with compressive symptoms or significant tracheal or oesophageal compression at risk of causing symptoms attributed to a goiter AND * Ineligible for surgery/ablative treatments or preference for TAE over other treatments AND * TiRADS category 1, 2, 3 or 4 AND * Bethesda categories I or III on 2 different biopsies OR Bethesda II on one biopsy AND * Patient at least 18 years old. Exclusion Criteria: * Comorbidities precluding endovascular procedure OR * TiRADS category 5 OR * Bethesda categories IV, V, VI on biopsy OR * Refusal of the patient to participate OR * Uncontrolled severe hyperthyroidism OR * Minor patient.
Where this trial is running
Sherbrooke, Quebec
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke — Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Laurent Fradet, MD FRCSC
- Email: Laurent.Fradet@USherbrooke.ca
- Phone: +1-819-346-1110
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.