Ultrasound-guided thermal ablation for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a multicenter retrospective study

Abstract

Purpose

Ultrasound-guided thermal ablation (including microwave ablation [MWA] and radiofrequency ablation [RFA]) has emerged as a remarkable technology for the treatment of benign and malignant diseases. The objective of this multicenter study was to assess the efficacy and safety of thermal ablation in a large cohort of patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).

Materials and methods

Retrospective study of 725 patients who underwent MWA/RFA at 11 centers between March 2015 and March 2020. The mean age of patients was 46 ± 11 years (range, 22–81); the mean follow-up time was 21 ± 13 months (range, 6–60). Changes in size of tumor, the rates of tumor disappearance, disease progression, and complications were assessed.

Results

From 6 months post-ablation, the size of tumors was significantly reduced compared with those recorded pre-ablation (p < 0.001 for all). Five hundred and fifteen (71.0%) PTMCs had completely disappeared as assessed by ultrasound examination. Six (0.8%) patients developed disease progression post-ablation; of these, 5 (0.7%) patients developed new PTMCs, while one (0.1%) patient developed cervical lymph node metastasis. Nineteen (2.6%) patients developed complications post-ablation; of these 14 (1.9%) patients developed voice hoarseness, 4 (0.6%) developed hematoma, and one (0.1%) patient developed cough.

Conclusions

Ultrasound-guided thermal ablation represents an effective and safe treatment for patients with PTMC besides active surveillance and surgery.

Keywords:

• Ultrasound
• papillary thyroid carcinoma
• ablation
• microwave ablation
• Radiofrequency ablation

Disclosure statement

There is no financial or other potential conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Beijing Municipal Science & Technology Commission [Z181100001718135] and the Natural Science Foundation of Shandong Province [ZR2017LH054].