Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for treating locoregional recurrence from papillary thyroid cancer

Objectives To assess the efficacy and safety of ultrasound( US) guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for controlling locoregional recurrent papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) in a large patient population. Methods We included patients who had undergone RFA for locoregional recurrent PTC between September 2008 and April 2012 who fulfilled the following criteria: no metastasis beyond the neck; not more than four tumours; confirmed recurrence by US-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy or thyroglobulin measurement of needle washouts; more than a six-month follow-up period; and surgery not feasible or was refused by the patient. Results Sixty-one recurrent tumours in 39 patients were included. The mean follow-up duration was 26.4 +/- 13.7 months. Tumour volume decreased significantly from 0.20 +/- 0.35 ml before ablation to 0.02 +/- 0.11 ml (P<.001), with a mean volume reduction ratio of 95.1 +/- 12.3 %. Fifty tumours (82.0 %) completely disappeared. Eleven tumours were visible at last follow-up US. The mean serum thyroglobulin level decreased from 1.21 +/- 1.91 to 0.50 +/- 0.80 ng/ml (P=.001). The overall complication rate was 7.7 % (3/39). Conclusions RFA can effectively control locoregional recurrent PTC without life-threatening complications; therefore, RFA may replace "berry picking surgery" in selected patients.