Efficacy and safety of microwave ablation treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism: systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose: The present systematic review and meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of microwave ablation (MWA) treatment for secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). Materials and methods: The study authors systematically searched the Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, Embase and Ovid databases for studies published in English prior to 7October 2019. All studies included in the meta-analysis measured levels of parathyroid hormone (PTH), calcium and phosphorus, and included data related to complications following MWA treatment for SHPT. Results: The meta-analysis ultimately included 233 patients from two retrospective cohort studies and six retrospective self-control studies. Compared to PTH level measurements obtained after MWA, measurements obtained at one day (weighted mean differences (WMD): 890.314, 95% confidence interval (CI): 767.121-1013.506, p < 0.01) , one week (WMD: 860.298, 95% CI: 759.401-961.194, p < 0.01), one month (WMD: 800.846, 95% CI: 687.709-913.983, p < 0.01) and six months (WMD: 860.847, 95% CI: 745.214-976.480, p < 0.01) after MWA were significantly lower. Calcium and phosphorus levels at one day and one week after MWA were also significantly lower than those measured before MWA. After MWA, the incidence of nerve injury was 1.2% (3/233; effect size (ES): 0.022, 95% CI: -0.003-0.048, p < 0.01). After MWA, the incidence of hypocalcemia was 15.8% (37/233; ES: 0.449, 95% CI: 0.341-0.556, p < 0.01). Conclusion: The preliminary results of this meta-analysis indicate that MWA may be effective and safe in treating patients with SHPT, and that future prospective research and randomized controlled trials (RCT) are necessary.