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Background and Objective: The high incidence of thyroid nodular disease has raised concerns on the therapeutic management of benign thyroid nodules. The development of minimally invasive techniques is an alternative to surgery and has a low rate of complications. Our objective was to evaluate the safety and efficacy profile of percutaneous ethanol injections (PEI) with ethanol aspiration of symptomatic cystic and predominantly cystic thyroid nodules (cystic component > 50%) treated in the thyroid nodule high-resolution unit (TNHRU) of Hospital de Tortosa Verge de la Cinta Hospital, Tarragona, Spain., Patients and Methods: The present work is a prospective, observational and descriptive study of 32 patients (87.5% women, mean age of 43; SD, 12) evaluated at the TNHRU from August 2022 through December 2023. Demographic data such as age, sex, previous thyroid function, diagnostic method, initial nodular volume, nodular composition and nodular location were analyzed. Using ultrasounds, measurements of diameters and thyroid nodule volume were taken. We aspirated a total of 50% of the cystic content and injected between 2 mL and 5 mL of 99% ethanol (depending on cystic volume). After letting the ethanol act inside the nodule for 5 to 10 minutes, all the cystic content and the injected ethanol were aspirated. We performed an ultrasound follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months, calculating the total volume and the volume reduction rate (VRR). The impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was assessed using the ThyPRO-39es questionnaire, which was administered before and after the PEI treatment at the 6-month follow-up., Results: The median volume reduction at the end of the 6-month follow-up was 0.23 mL (0.00-0.67), and the VRR, 98.57% (94.80-100.00). The difference between the initial volume and the mean volume at the 1-, 3-, and 6-month follow-ups was statistically significant, as was the VRR between the 1-month and the 3- and 6-month follow-ups. Six patients (18.80%) required 2 PEIs and only 2 patients (6.3%) required 3 PEIs. The overall quality of life, which was scored from 0 (good) to 4 (poor), significantly improved from 1.28; SD, 0.81 up to 0.19; SD, 0.40 (p < 0.001)., Conclusions: PEI is an effective alternative to treat cystic thyroid nodules resulting in an improved patients' HRQoL. It can be performed outpatiently with a low rate of complications, thus making it suitable for inclusion in the service portfolio of a HRTNU., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None declared., (Copyright © 2024 SEEN and SED. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Background and Objective: The high incidence of nodular thyroid pathology has led to growing concern about the economic impact that this pathology represents on the healthcare system. There are conclusive data about the cost-effectiveness of high-resolution units for nodular thyroid pathology; however, their implementation is not homogeneous in the Endocrinology and Nutrition services of our country. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the economic impact of the implementation of the high-resolution thyroid nodule unit (HRTNU) in our center., Patients and Methods: The present work is a prospective, observational and descriptive study carried out in 1314 patients (82% women, mean age 58 years ds = 11) evaluated at the HRTNU during the period of August 2022-August 2023. Demographic data (age and sex) were analyzed, referral center and consultation type, number of total consultations and neck ultrasound performed, number of fine needle aspiration (FNAB) performed, and cytology results were analyzed., Results: In the period from August 2022 to August 2023, a total of 1314 patients were evaluated (neck ultrasound and clinical consultation) and a total of 133 FNAB were performed, of which only 2.26% were non-diagnostic. Compared to the percentage of unsatisfactory FNAB from the previous year August 2021-July 2022 of 25%, a mean saving of 9931.43 euros was estimated. 84.47% of the patients evaluated for the first time by the HRTNU were discharged, estimating a mean saving of 133,200 euros., Conclusions: The implementation of a HRTNU at the Endocrinology and Nutrition departments, coordinated with primary and specialized care, is a cost-effectiveness alternative, as it reduces the number of medical consultations and is accompanied by a higher rate of diagnostic FNAB., (Copyright © 2024 SEEN and SED. Published by Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)