[Treatment of autonomous thyroid gland nodules using percutaneous injections of ethanol under ultrasonography control--initial experience].

: The authors treated nine women with autonomous adenomas of the thyroid gland by repeated ethanol injections under ultrasonographic control. In all patients clinical and laboratory characteristics of hyperthyroidism were present. After treatment is seven patients euthyroidism was induced, in two patients subclinical hypothyroidism which persisted also during the 6-month follow-up period. In all patients ultrasonographic changes in the nodes were recorded: a reduced echogenity the development of "halo"--hypoechogenic outlines--a change of the shape and on average a 37% reduction of the volume. Treatment was feasible also under out-patient conditions: it was well tolerated by the patients, undesirable effects were not serious and only transient and receded spontaneously.