Microwave Ablation of An Autonomous Functioning Thyroid Nodule in A Pregnant Patient: A Case Report

An autonomous functioning thyroid nodule (AFTN) is a benign disease. It can autonomously secrete excessive thyroid hormones without the need for TSH stimulation. It is not subject to the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and is rare during pregnancy. Here we report a case of a 36-year-old pregnant woman with hyperthyroidism detected in early pregnancy, According to ultrasound and laboratory results, she was diagnosed with an AFTN. Ultrasound-guided (US-guided) microwave ablation (MWA) was used to treat AFTN during the second trimester of pregnancy. Hyperthyroidism crisis and other complications did not occur due to MWA. Thyroid function was normal at 2, 3 and 4 months after MWA. The volume reduction rate (VRR) was 83.67% at 4 months after MWA. The patient gave birth normally at 40 weeks gestation. All indices of thyroid function were normal during postpartum and lactation. US-guided MWA is a feasible and safe method for the treatment of AFTN during pregnancy, specifically in the second trimester.