Percutaneous ultrasound-guided laser ablation for the treatment of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis: a pilot study

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and safety of percutaneous ultrasound (US)-guided laser ablation (LA) for the treatment of cervical tuberculous lymphadenitis (CTBL). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 11 patients with CTBL (mean age, 32.0 ± 8.6 years; range, 18-47 years) who underwent percutaneous US-guided LA from June 2014 to December 2016 with a subsequent 12-month follow-up. We assessed the mean volume reduction and contrast-enhanced US (CEUS) changes of the target lymph nodes as well as the tolerability and adverse effects of LA. RESULTS: The mean ablation energy was 522 ± 312 J (range, 204-1317 J). All 17 enrolled target lymph nodes were completely non-enhanced after LA treatment as detected by CEUS, indicating complete ablation of all lymph nodes (100%). The target lymph nodes significantly decreased in volume by a mean of 74.0% ± 15.6% from baseline to 12 months after LA. The LA procedure was well tolerated, and none of the 11 patients developed severe complications during the 12-month follow-up. CONCLUSION: Percutaneous US-guided LA for the treatment of CTBL exhibits good tolerability, minimal invasiveness, and few adverse effects. Further investigations with larger sample sizes and longer follow-up periods are warranted to confirm these findings.