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Updated: Oct 5, 2025
Thermal Ablation for the Treatment of Abdominal Tumors
Published on: March 7, 2011
Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Locally Recurrent Thyroid Carcinoma
Hossein Chegeni1,2, Hojat Ebrahiminik3,4, Ali Mosadegh Khah5
1Department of Interventional Radiology and Radiation, Sciences Research Center, AJA University of Medical Sciences, Etemadzadeh St, West Fatemi St, Tehran, Tehran Province, Iran.
Introduction:
We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for non-surgical treatment of locally recurrent thyroid cancers, in both well-differentiated and medullary thyroid carcinomas (DTC and MTC) that are not amenable to traditional treatments.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective review of 48 patients with 103 recurrent tumors (81 DTC, 22 MTC) who underwent ultrasound-guided RFA. Patients were followed for 12-37 months to observe the outcomes and complications.
Results:
64 tumors (62.1%) completely disappeared at the last follow-up visit with 61 (59.2%) being resolved within 12 months. Technical success (volume reduction ratio (VRR) > 50%) was 96% (n = 99) in all tumors. The mean largest diameter of treated tumors decreased from 11.2 ± 5.3 to 2.4 ± 3.4 mm (p value < 0.001), and the mean volume decreased from 501.0 ± 807.0 to 41.6 ± 97.1 mm3 at the last follow-up (mean VRR = 91%). Our patients had a 77.1% recurrence-free survival rate (11 recurrences, 7 DTC, 4 MTC), with an overall mean recurrence-free survival time of 34.6 months (95% confidence interval, 30.0-39.1). We observed 3 cases with complications (voice changes in DTC patients) that completely resolved during follow-ups.
Conclusion:
RFA is a safe and effective alternative to repetitive surgeries in recurrent loco-regional DTCs as well as MTCs.
Level Of Evidence:
Level 3, Non-randomized controlled cohort/follow-up study.
