Radiofrequency ablation versus total thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma located in the isthmus: a retrospective cohort study

Figures & data

Figure 1. Flow chart.

Table 1. Characteristics and clinical features of the patients.

	RFA (n = 115)	TT (n = 103)	p Value
Age, year, mean ± SD	44.9 ± 10.4	45.4 ± 9.9	0.701
Gender, n (%)			0.584
Female	97 (84.3)	84 (81.5)
Male	18 (15.7)	19 (18.4)
Largest diameter, mm, mean ± SD	6.5 ± 1.9	6.9 ± 1.6	0.109
Volume of the tumor, mm^3, mean ± SD	181.6 ± 156.5	198.2 ± 118.8	0.383
Microcalcification, n (%)	37 (32.2)	59 (57.3)	<0.001
Follow up, month, median (range)	26 (11-60)	29 (12-60)	0.320

RFA: radiofrequency ablation; TT: total thyroidectomy.

p values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant (bold).

Table 2. Outcomes of the thyroid carcinoma.

	RFA (n = 115)	TT (n = 103)	p Value
Surgical time, min, mean ± SD	8.3 ± 3.2	78.9 ± 12.2	<0.001
Blood loss volume, ml, mean ± SD	1.5 ± 0.3	31.8 ± 11.2	<0.001
Hospital stays, days, mean ± SD	0	9.8 ± 4.1	<0.001
Costs, RMB, mean ± SD	1973.1 ± 238.9	2674.1 ± 818.7	<0.001
Recurrence, n (%)	1 (0.9)	0	0.528
Lymphatic metastasis, n (%)	0	2 (1.9)	0.222
Transient hypocalcemia, yes, n (%)	0	1 (0.9)	0.104
Temporary hoarseness, yes, n (%)	2 (1.7)	0	0.432
Scar, yes, n (%)	0	103 (100)	<0.001
Hypothyroidism, yes, n (%)	0	103 (100)	<0.001
THYCA-QoL scores, mean ± SD	6.8 ± 0.6	5.3 ± 1.0	<0.001

RFA: radiofrequency ablation; TT: total thyroidectomy; THYCA-QoL: thyroid cancer-specific quality of life.

p values ≤0.05 were considered statistically significant (bold).

Figure 2. Imaging evaluation of one patient. (A) B-mode ultrasound revealed a hypoechoic nodule on the thyroid isthmus, 3 × 3 × 4 mm in size. (B) Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) examination was performed after RFA, and the ablation area was 14 × 6 × 15 mm. (C) One month after ablation, CEUS showed that the ablation area was 10 × 4 × 10 mm, with a volume reduction rate of about 68%. (D) At 3 months after ablation, CEUS showed that the ablation area was 8 × 4 × 7 mm, with a volume reduction rate of about 82%. (E) At 6 months after ablation, CEUS showed that the ablation area was 8 × 3 × 6 mm, with a volume reduction rate of about 89%. (F) At 12 months after ablation, the ablation area was completely absorbed, and the isthmus was uniformly enhanced by contrast-enhanced ultrasound.