Efficacy Assessment and Analysis of Related Factors of Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous Lauromacrogol Injection for Cystic Thyroid Nodules.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing the short-term and long-term efficacy of sclerotherapy for cystic thyroid nodules. METHODS: Ninety-nine cystic thyroid nodules that underwent ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy, detection of thyroglobulin in fine needle aspirate (Tg-FNA), and ultrasound-guided percutaneous lauromacrogol injection were retrospectively enrolled from July 2018 to July 2021. All nodules were followed up at 3 and 12 months after the procedure. Factors related to lauromacrogol injection efficacy, including initial volume, vascularity, pathological types, and Tg-FNA level, were analyzed. The nodules were classified as non-effective (VRR <50%) and effective groups (VRR ≥50%) at 3 months to evaluate short-term prognosis, and non-cured (VRR <90%) and cured groups (VRR ≥90%) at 12 months to evaluate long-term prognosis. RESULTS: The volume of cystic thyroid nodules tended to shrink during follow-up. The resolution rate was 79.80% (79/99) at 3 months and 96.91% (94/97) at 12 months. The cure rate was 80.41% (78/97) at 12 months. Independent factors for the long-term prognosis included Tg-FNA level and vascularity (P  < .05). Only Tg-FNA level was an independent factor for the short-term prognosis (P  < .05). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for assessing the efficacy at 3 months was 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65-0.89). With a cutoff value of Tg-FNA 126.92 ng/mL, the specificity was 0.70, and the sensitivity was 0.85. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound-guided percutaneous lauromacrogol injection is an effective treatment option for cystic thyroid nodules. It is less effective in viscous or vascular predominantly cystic nodules.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cytology practice: An international survey in the Asia-Pacific region.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the current study was to examine the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on various aspects of cytology practice in the Asia-Pacific region. METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed to cytopathology laboratories in 24 Asia-Pacific countries to explore the impact of restrictive measures on access to health care, use of general and personal protective equipment (PPE), and changes in cytology workflow and workload from February to April 2020. RESULTS: A total of 167 cytopathology laboratories from 24 countries responded to the survey; the majority reported that restrictive measures that limited the accessibility of health care services had been implemented in their cities and/or countries (80.8%) and their hospitals (83.8%). The respondents noted that COVID-19 had an impact on the cytologic workflow as well as the workload. Approximately one-half of the participants reported the implementation of new biosafety protocols (54.5%) as well as improvements in laboratory facilities (47.3%). Rearrangement or redeployment of the workforce was reported in 53.3% and 34.1% of laboratories, respectively. The majority of the respondents reported a significant reduction (>10%) in caseload associated with both gynecological (82.0%) and nongynecological specimens (78.4%). Most laboratories reported no significant change in the malignancy rates of both gynecological (67.7%) and nongynecological specimens (58.7%) compared with the same period in 2019. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the survey demonstrated that the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant reduction in the number of cytology specimens examined along with the need to implement new biosafety protocols. These findings underscore the need for the worldwide standardization of biosafety protocols and cytology practice.