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Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for treating locoregional recurrence from papillary thyroid cancer

  • Oncology
  • Published:
European Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

To assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound- (US) guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for controlling locoregional recurrent papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in a large patient population.

Methods

We included patients who had undergone RFA for locoregional recurrent PTC between September 2008 and April 2012 who fulfilled the following criteria: no metastasis beyond the neck; not more than four tumours; confirmed recurrence by US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy or thyroglobulin measurement of needle washouts; more than a six-month follow-up period; and surgery not feasible or was refused by the patient.

Results

Sixty-one recurrent tumours in 39 patients were included. The mean follow-up duration was 26.4 ± 13.7 months. Tumour volume decreased significantly from 0.20 ± 0.35 ml before ablation to 0.02 ± 0.11 ml (P < .001), with a mean volume reduction ratio of 95.1 ± 12.3 %. Fifty tumours (82.0 %) completely disappeared. Eleven tumours were visible at last follow-up US. The mean serum thyroglobulin level decreased from 1.21 ± 1.91 to 0.50 ± 0.80 ng/ml (P = .001). The overall complication rate was 7.7 % (3/39).

Conclusions

RFA can effectively control locoregional recurrent PTC without life-threatening complications; therefore, RFA may replace “berry picking surgery” in selected patients.

Key Points

• RFA for recurrent PTC achieved a volume reduction ratio of 95.1 ± 12.3 %

• Eighty-two percent (50/61) of recurrent PTC completely disappeared after RFA

• The mean serum thyroglobulin level decreased significantly (P = .001) after RFA

• RFA may replace “berry picking surgery” for recurrent PTC

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Abbreviations

PTC:

Papillary thyroid carcinoma

RI:

Radioactive iodine

US:

Ultrasound

RFA:

Radiofrequency ablation

EA:

Ethanol ablation

FNAB:

Fine needle aspiration biopsy

FNAB-Tg:

thyroglobulin measurement of needle washout

VRR:

Volume reduction ratio

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Acknowledgements

The scientific guarantor of this publication is Hyun Kwon Ha, head of the department of Radiology and Research institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center. The authors of this manuscript declare no relationships with any companies whose products or services may be related to the subject matter of the article. The authors state that this work has not received any funding. No complex statistical methods were necessary for this paper. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained. Written informed consent was obtained from all subjects (patients) in this study. Methodology: retrospective, observational, performed at one institution.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, 86 Asanbyeongwon-Gil, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, 138-736, Korea

    Hyun Kyung Lim, Jung Hwan Baek & Jeong Hyun Lee

  2. Department of Radiology, Seoul Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Yongsan-Gu, Seoul, Korea

    Hyun Kyung Lim

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea

    Won Bae Kim, Tae Yong Kim & Young Kee Shong

  4. Department of Surgery, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Songpa-Gu, Seoul, Korea

    Suck Joon Hong

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  1. Hyun Kyung Lim
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Correspondence to Jung Hwan Baek.

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Lim, H.K., Baek, J.H., Lee, J.H. et al. Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for treating locoregional recurrence from papillary thyroid cancer. Eur Radiol 25, 163–170 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3405-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00330-014-3405-5

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