The Development of Ultrasound Intervention in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Non-breast Superficial and Abdominal Diseases

Summary

This review examines the role of ultrasound intervention in diagnosing and treating non-breast superficial and abdominal diseases. Originally a diagnostic tool, ultrasound intervention has expanded into a platform integrating thermal ablation, drainage, and vascular therapy. Advances such as contrast-enhanced imaging and fusion navigation have improved precision, although standardization and long-term efficacy remain challenges.

Abstract

Interventional ultrasound is undergoing a paradigm shift from a traditional diagnostic adjunct to a diversified therapeutic platform, particularly in non-breast superficial and abdominal diseases. This review provides a domain-specific analysis of this clinical transition, focusing on two primary use cases: precise thermal ablation for superficial organ lesions (e.g., thyroid nodules) and image-guided tumor management in solid abdominal organs (e.g., hepatocellular carcinoma). Through a narrative review of recent literature, we describe how the modality has advanced from simple puncture biopsy to a comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic system integrating complex drainage and vascular interventions. For thyroid diseases, thermal ablation is increasingly recommended by international guidelines (e.g., ATA, ETA) as a viable alternative to surgery for symptomatic benign nodules and strictly selected, low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinomas. In hepatic malignancies, thermal ablation is endorsed by major guidelines (e.g., EASL, AASLD) as a potentially curative option for early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with small tumors (typically ≤3 cm) or those ineligible for surgical resection. This transformation is driven by the integration of technologies such as contrast-enhanced ultrasound, fusion imaging, elastography, and artificial intelligence (AI), which have enhanced procedural accuracy and safety. Multidisciplinary collaboration has further enabled application in more complex clinical scenarios. Despite ongoing challenges in technical standardization and long-term efficacy, ultrasound intervention has become an important platform for precision diagnosis and treatment in abdominal and superficial organ diseases.

Introduction

Since the mid-20th century, ultrasound imaging technology has established a cornerstone position in modern clinical medicine, with advantages including being radiation-free, real-time, high-resolution, convenient, and cost-effective. Over several decades of development, ultrasound has primarily been used for disease screening and diagnosis. Through images formed by sound wave reflection, it reveals morphological changes in internal organs and serves as an important reference in clinical decision-making^1,2. However, traditional diagnostic ultrasound is essentially a passive observation tool. Its "picture de....