Objective:

To explore the feasibility of optical navigation combined with ultrasound navigation for thyroid nodule ablation through animal experiments

selecting cryoablation as a means

and verifying the accuracy of localization and ablation safety in animal experiments.

Methods:

Three Bama Xiaoxiang pigs were ablated with ultrasound guidance to establish an animal model of thyroid nodules. Using optical navigation for three-dimensional ultrasound reconstruction of “nodules” and thyroid

young ultrasound interve

ntion physicians used optical navigation to guide precise ablation needles puncture. The ablation needles passed through the center of the “nodules” to the front edge of the “nodules”

and cryoablation was initiated until the range of the ice balls exceeded the edge of the nodules by more than 5 mm. Recorded the size of the nodules

ablation parameters

ice hockey and ablation range

and postoperative complications separately.

Results:

With the assistance of optical and ultrasound navigation

inexperienced ultrasoundinterventional physicians could smoothly pass the ablation needles through the center of the “nodules” to the front edge target of the “nodules”. The average diameter of the ice balls was about (24.3±3.8) mm. After 30 min of ablation

the ice balls completely melt. Follow up thyroid ultrasound showed that the maximum diameter of the ablation lesions was on average (18.7±5.1) mm

and the volume was (2 215.4±1 470.3) mm

3

. All experimental animals had no complications.

Conclusion:

The combination of optical and ultrasound navigation for thyroid nodule cryoablation was safe and effective

with minimal damage to adjacent critical structures. Optical navigation can help inexperienced ultrasound interventional physicians successfully complete thyroid nodule cryoablation

and has good application prospects.