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Published on: September 15, 2023
Microwave Ablation versus Surgical Resection for US-detected Multifocal T1N0M0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A
Zhen-Long Zhao1, Shu-Rong Wang1, Gang Dong1
1From the Department of Interventional Medicine, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing, China (Z.L.Z., Y.W., L.L.P., Y. Li, N.C.L., J.W., M.A.Y.); Department of Ultrasound, Yantai Hospital of Shandong Wendeng Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Yantai, China (S.R.W., Y. Liu); Department of Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China (G.D.); Department of Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Baotou Medical College of Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, Inner Mongolia, China (J.F.H.); Department of Ultrasound, Laixi Municipal Hospital, Laixi, China (L.L.S.); Department of Interventional Ultrasound, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China (J.Q.G.); Department of Special Inspection, Wendeng District People's Hospital, Weihai, China (Z.H.W.); Department of Electrodiagnosis, the Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun, China (Z.B.C.); Department of Medical Ultrasound, Yantai Affiliated Hospital of Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China (L.H.L., B.B.Y.); Department of Special Inspection, Muping Zhongyi Hospital, Yantai, China (C.P.Q.); Department of Clinical Medical Sciences, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China (W.Q.N.).
Abstract:
Background Microwave ablation (MWA) is currently under preliminary investigation for the treatment of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and has shown promising treatment efficacy. Compared with surgical resection (SR), MWA is minimally invasive and could preserve thyroid function. However, a comparative analysis between MWA and SR is warranted to draw definitive conclusions. Purpose To compare MWA and SR for preoperative US-detected T1N0M0 multifocal PTC in terms of overall and 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival rates and complication rates. Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 775 patients with preoperative US-detected T1N0M0 multifocal PTC treated with MWA or SR across 10 centers between May 2015 and December 2021 were included. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed for patients in the MWA and SR groups, followed by comparisons between the two groups. The primary outcomes were overall and 1-, 3-, and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates and complication rates. Results After PSM, 229 patients (median age, 44 years [IQR 36.5-50.5 years]; 179 female) in the MWA group and 453 patients (median age, 45 years [IQR 37-53 years]; 367 female) in the SR group were observed for a median of 20 months (range, 12-74 months) and 26 months (range, 12-64 months), respectively. MWA resulted in less blood loss, shorter incision length, and shorter procedure and hospitalization durations (all P < .001). There was no evidence of differences in overall and 1-, 3-, or 5-year PFS rates (all P > .05) between MWA and SR (5-year rate, 77.2% vs 83.1%; P = .36) groups. Permanent hoarseness (2.2%, P = .05) and hypoparathyroidism (4.0%, P = .005) were encountered only in the SR group. Conclusion There was no evidence of a significant difference in PFS rates between MWA and SR for US-detected multifocal T1N0M0 PTC, and MWA resulted in fewer complications. Therefore, MWA is a feasible option for selected patients with multifocal T1N0M0 PTC. © RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article. See also the editorial by Georgiades in this issue.
