INTRODUCTION: To date, there have only been 2 systematic reviews, and 1 systematic review and meta-analysis on high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for benign thyroid nodules. The present systematic review and meta-analysis seeks to evaluate the efficacy and safety of HIFU in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. METHODS: Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant studies from 1990 to 2021. Nine studies were included in the systematic review and 6 in the meta-analysis. Pooled volume reduction rates (VRRs) at 3, 6 and 24 months after HIFU were assessed. RESULTS: This systematic review and meta-analysis showed that pooled VRRs at 3, 6, and 24 months after HIFU were 42.14 (95% confidence interval [CI] 28.66-55.62, I2=91%), 53.51 (95% CI 36.78-70.25, I2=97%) and 46.89 (95% CI 18.87-74.92, I2=99%), respectively. There was significant heterogeneity in the pooled VRRs at 3, 6 and 24 months after HIFU. No studies recorded complete disappearance of the nodules. Common side effects included pain, skin changes and oedema. There were no major complications except for transient vocal cord paralysis and voice hoarseness (0.014%) and transient Horner syndrome (0.5%). CONCLUSION HIFU may be an effective and safe alternative treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules. Larger clinical trials with longer follow-up are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of HIFU in treating benign thyroid nodules.
High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation/adverse effects* ; Humans ; Pain ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Thyroid Nodule/surgery* ; Treatment Outcome

Humans ; Incidence ; Oropharyngeal Neoplasms/epidemiology* ; Papillomaviridae ; Papillomavirus Infections/epidemiology* ; Singapore/epidemiology*

Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Neoplasms

INTRODUCTION: The impact of noninvasive follicular thyroid neoplasm with papillary-like nuclear features (NIFTP) on the risk of malignancy (ROM) in fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) per The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology has not been well reported in Singapore. METHODS: We retrospectively identified 821 thyroid nodules with preoperative FNAC from 788 patients out of 1,279 consecutive thyroidectomies performed between January 2010 and August 2016 in a tertiary general hospital in Singapore. Possible cases of NIFTP were reviewed for reclassification and the impact of NIFTP on ROM was analysed. RESULTS: The incidence of NIFTP was 1.2% (10 out of 821). If NIFTP is considered benign, ROM in Bethesda I through VI were 8.6%, 3.5%, 26.3%, 20.0%, 87.7%, 97.0% versus 8.6%, 4.2%, 28.1%, 26.7%, 89.2% and 100% if NIFTP is considered malignant. Eight patients with NIFTP had follow-up of 15 to 110 months. One had possible rib metastasis as evidenced by I131 uptake but remained free of structural or biochemical disease during a follow-up period of 110 months. None had lymph node metastasis at presentation, nor locoregional or distant recurrence. CONCLUSION Classifying NIFTP as benign decreased ROM in Bethesda II through VI, but the benignity of NIFTP requires more prospective studies to ascertain. The impact of NIFTP on ROM in our institution also appears to be lower than that reported in the Western studies.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular/epidemiology* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore/epidemiology* ; Thyroid Neoplasms/epidemiology*

COVID-19/transmission* ; COVID-19 Testing ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & control* ; Intraoperative Care ; Pandemics ; Personal Protective Equipment ; Postoperative Care ; Preoperative Care ; Tracheostomy/methods*