Locoregional control of recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma by ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation: A...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficiency of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave (MW) ablation for the control of locally recurrent papillary thyroid carcinoma (LR-PTC) in patients for whom surgery is not viable.

The inclusion criteria for MW ablation were three or fewer LR-PTCs and no recurrence beyond the neck, with ineligibility or refusal to undergo surgery. MW ablation was carried out using a 16-gauge MW antenna under local anaesthesia. Patients were then followed at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment and every 6 months thereafter. Technical success usually meant volume reduction more than 50%.

Between October 2010 to March 2013 a total of 17 patients (14 women, 3 men; average age 54.1 years) with 23 LR-PTCs, were treated with MW ablation in our department. All the LR-PTCs were technical successes with the number of treatment sessions for one tumour ranging from 1 to 4 (mean, 2.3 ± 0.9). The mean volume reduction ratio of the LR-PTCs was 1 ± 86%, 47 ± 12%, 70 ± 33%, 91 ± 14% at the 1, 3, 6 and 18 months follow-up visit respectively (all p < 0.05). All treated nodules decreased in size: 30.4% nodules (7/23) had completely disappeared, 52.2% nodules (12/23) remained as small scar-like lesions. One patient experienced transient dysphonia immediately after MW ablation. No other severe and permanent complications occurred.

Although with some limitations, our preliminary results are encouraging and show MW ablation may be an alternative treatment option for the control of LR-PTCs in selected patients for whom surgery is not viable.