Safety and efficiency of ultrasound-guided low power microwave ablation in the treatment of cervical metastatic lymph node from papillary thyroid carcinoma: a mean of 32 months follow-up study

PurposeTo evaluate the safety and efficiency of microwave ablation (MWA) with low power of 20w, respectively, in the treatment of cervical metastatic lymph node (CMLN) from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) with a mean of 32-month follow-up.MethodsEleven patients in total with 24 cervical lymph nodes (LNs) diagnosed with CMLN from PTC underwent MWA at a power of 20w. We recorded images of the LNs under ultrasound first before MWA and 1, 3, 6, 12, months after MWA, and then every 6 months, respectively. The volumes of the LNs were compared before MWA and at each follow-up point after MWA. The thyroglobulin (Tg) test was performed before MWA and 3 months after MWA.ResultsAll patients were successfully treated, and they showed no major complications. Before MWA, the mean volume of the LNs was 364.15306.89mm(3), which decreased to 234.10 +/- 230.34mm(3), 107.51 +/- 129.47mm(3), 20.88 +/- 39.27mm(3), 3.38 +/- 12.74mm(3), and completely disappeared at the follow-up point of 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after MWA, respectively. The mean Tg was 11.81 +/- 7.50ng/ml, a data significantly decreased to 0.43 +/- 0.11ng/ml 3 months after MWA (P=0.000). In the follow-up period, no recurrent lesions were found.Conclusions p id=Par4 For the treatment of CMLN from PTC, low power MWA showed good safety and efficacy. MWA is likely to be a candidate for patients with high risks or who refuse reoperation.