Locoregional Control of Metastatic Well-Differentiated Thyroid Cancer by Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation

Abstract

Although surgery is the standard treatment of locally metastatic thyroid cancer, RFA is effective for locoregional control of metastatic well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in patients for whom surgery is infeasible.

Radiofrequency ablation for thyroid nodules: which indications? The first Italian opinion statement

“…Several studies [39][40][41][42] investigated the usefulness of RF ablation to treat metastatic lymph nodes from recurrent thyroid cancer, in patients at high surgical risk, when radioiodine is not effective. Results showed a marked shrinkage of treated lesions, coupled with serum thyroglobulin reduction, suggesting that RF treatment, such as laser ablation or PEI, may be effective in selected cases.…”

Combination Therapy Consisting of Ethanol and Radiofrequency Ablation for Predominantly Cystic Thyroid Nodules

“…The 3 orthogonal diameters of each nodule (the largest diameter and the 2 diameters perpendicular to it) were measured, and the volume of each nodule was calculated by using the following equation: V ϭ abc / 6, where V is volume, a is the largest diameter, and b and c are the 2 perpendicular diameters. 8,13,24 Under US guidance, 1 of the 2 radiologists performed fine-needle aspiration on the solid component of each nodule. At enrollment, the patients were asked to rate their symptom score on a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (0 -10).…”

“…5,6 Recently, radiofrequency (RF) ablation has been used to treat benign thyroid nodules with a low complication rate, [7][8][9][10][11][12] including thyroid nodules with a cystic portion 6,8 and recurrent thyroid cancers. 13 Although EA is effective for treating cystic and predominantly cystic nodules, 5%-25% of patients are refractory to EA.…”

Treatment of Benign Thyroid Nodules: Comparison of Surgery with Radiofrequency Ablation

“…9 Since Dupuy et al 10 first pioneered the application of radiofrequency ablation to treat recurrent thyroid cancers, RFA has been widely used for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules, goiters, and recurrent thyroid cancers. [11][12][13][14][15] Recently, many studies including long-term follow-up studies, 16 randomized controlled trials, 6,17 and a meta-analysis 18 have promulgated the efficacy and safety of RFA. To date, however, only 1 study has compared surgery and RFA, 13 and it enrolled a relatively small population of 37 patients treated with RFA and 74 patients treated with surgery.…”