Long-term Follow-up Results of Ultrasound-guided Radiofrequency Ablation for Low-risk Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: More than 5 year follow-up for 84 tumors.

Long-term Follow-up Results of Ultrasound-guided Radiofrequency Ablation for Low-risk Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: More than 5 year follow-up for 84 tumors. Thyroid. 2020 May 07;: Authors: Cho SJ, Baek SM, Lim HK, Lee KD, Son JM, Baek JH Abstract BACKGROUND: Despite reports describing favorable short-term results for thermal ablation of thyroid cancer, there remains a need to evaluate long-term results because of its indolent characteristics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) over a follow-up period of more than 5 years. METHODS: From a cohort of patients under surveillance following US-guided RFA for primary low-risk PTMC, those with a record of follow-up data of more than 5 years were selected for this study. Before RFA, all patients underwent US and computed tomography to evaluate the PTMC and the presence of neck metastasis. RFA was performed using thyroid-dedicated electrodes. Follow-up US was performed 6 and 12 months after initial RFA, and then every 12 months. The status of ablated tumors was evaluated according to volume reduction, local tumor progression, newly developed cancers, lymph node or distant metastasis, and delayed surgery during follow-up. Complications during the procedure and follow-up period were evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 84 nodules fro...
Source: Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association - Category: Endocrinology Tags: Thyroid Source Type: research