Ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for certain thyroid nodules

Ultrasound-guided Thermal Ablation for Bethesda III/IV Thyroid Nodules: A Multicenter Study

Observational Chinese PLA General Hospital · NCT06733753

This study tests whether a special heat treatment using ultrasound can safely help people with certain thyroid nodules who can't or don't want to have surgery.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment600 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorChinese PLA General Hospital Academic / other
Locations2 sites (Beijing, Beijing Municipality and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06733753 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study evaluates the long-term outcomes of ultrasound-guided thermal ablation specifically for thyroid nodules classified as Bethesda III or IV. It aims to predict clinical outcomes for patients who have confirmed nodules but are either refusing surgery or are ineligible for it. The methodology involves monitoring patients over a follow-up period of at least 12 months to assess the effectiveness and safety of the thermal ablation procedure.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are patients with Bethesda III or IV thyroid nodules who have refused surgery or are not eligible for surgical intervention.

Not a fit: Patients with confirmed malignancy or those who do not have suspicious findings on ultrasound will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could provide a less invasive treatment option for patients with Bethesda III/IV thyroid nodules, potentially avoiding surgery.

How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing research in thermal ablation for thyroid nodules, this specific approach for Bethesda III/IV nodules is relatively novel and not extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

1. confirmation of Bethesda III or IV on fine- needle aspiration and negative on Braf V600E test
2. no clinical or imaging evidences of extrathyroidal extension, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis on ultrasound, neck and chest CT
3. refusal or ineligibility for surgery
4. follow-up time ≥12 months

Exclusion Criteria:

1. follicular neoplasm or malignancy findings on biopsy
2. no suspicious of malignancy in US
3. patients with contra-lateral vocal cord paralysis
4. follow- up time less than 12 months

Where this trial is running

Beijing, Beijing Municipality and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Thyroid Nodule
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.