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. 2021 Jul;82(4):914-922.
doi: 10.3348/jksr.2020.0128. Epub 2021 Apr 14.

Radiofrequency Ablation of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study

Yoo Kyeong Seo, Seong Whi Cho, Jung Suk Sim, Go Eun Yang, Woojin Cho

Radiofrequency Ablation of Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: A 10-Year Follow-Up Study

Yoo Kyeong Seo et al. Taehan Yongsang Uihakhoe Chi. 2021 Jul.

Abstract
in English, Korean

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) after > 10 years of follow-up.

Materials and methods: This study included five patients who underwent RFA to treat PTMCs (five lesions, mean diameter 0.5 cm, range 0.4-0.7 cm) between November 2006 and December 2009. The inclusion criteria were histopathologically confirmed PTMCs, a single PTMC lesion without extrathyroidal extension, no metastasis, and ineligibility or refusal to undergo surgery. RFA was performed by a single radiologist using a radiofrequency generator and an internally cooled electrode. We retrospectively analyzed the procedure-induced complications, serial changes in ablated tumors, recurrence, and local as well as lymph node metastasis based on data obtained from medical records and radiological images.

Results: The mean follow-up period was 130.6 months (range 121-159 months). Three patients underwent a single RFA session, and two patients underwent two RFA sessions. We observed no procedure-induced complications. Three tumors completely disappeared after ablation, and ablation of the other two tumors resulted in the formation of a small scar that showed long-term stability (mean duration 16.8 months, range 12-27 months). At the last follow-up, no patient showed recurrence or lymph node metastasis, and serum thyroglobulin levels were within normal limits in all patients.

Conclusion: RFA may be effective and safe to treat low-risk PTMC in patients who refuse or are ineligible for surgery.

목적: 이 연구는 갑상선 미세유두암을 고주파 절제술로 치료한 후 10년 이상 경과 관찰한 환자들의 결과를 통해 효과와 안전성을 평가하고자 했다.

대상과 방법: 2006년 11월부터 2009년 12월까지 갑상선 미세유두암을 고주파 절제술로 치료 받은 환자 5명을 대상으로 하였다. 이 환자들은 모두 조직검사를 통해 갑상선 미세유두암으로 진단을 받았고, 병변은 갑상선 내에 국한되어 있었으며, 전이의 증거가 없었고, 수술이나 전신마취가 의학적으로 부적합하거나 수술을 거부한 환자들이었다. 고주파 절제술은 고주파 발생기와 냉각기를 사용하여 한 명의 영상의학과 의사가 시행하였다. 우리는 시술과 연관된 부작용, 소작된 종양의 변화, 재발 여부, 국소 또는 림프절 전이 등에 대해 초음파 영상 소견과 의무 기록을 토대로 분석하였다.

결과: 평균 경과 관찰기간은 130.6개월(범위, 121~159개월) 이었다. 세 명의 환자는 한 번의 고주파 절제술을, 두 명의 환자는 두 번의 시술을 받았다. 다섯 명의 환자 모두 시술과 연관된 부작용은 보이지 않았다. 다섯 개 중 세 개의 종양은 시술 후 완전히 사라졌으며 두 개의 종양은 최소한의 흔적으로 남아 평균 16.8개월의 경과 관찰기간 동안 큰 변화가 없었다. 가장 최근의 경과관찰에서 다섯 명의 환자 모두 국소 전이나 림프절 전이는 보이지 않았고 갑상선 글로불린(thyroglobulin)의 수치도 정상 범위였다.

결론: 고주파 절제술은 수술에 부적합하거나 수술을 거부하는 저위험 갑상선 미세유두암 환자들에 대해서 효과적이고 안전한 치료법이 될 수 있다.

Keywords: Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma; Radiofrequency Ablation; Thyroid Neoplasm.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Ultrasonographic images of patient 4.
A–C. Pre-RFA (A), 46 months after the first RFA session (B), and 34 months after the second RFA session (C). Arrow in (A) shows the papillary thyroid microcarcinoma before ablation. Arrows in (B) and (C) show tiny remnant hypoechoic spots near the site of RFA. Histopathological evaluation of a fine-needle aspiration biopsy specimen after obtaining image (B) shows no malignant cells. RFA = radiofrequency ablation
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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