title: Radiofrequency ablation to treat loco-regional recurrence of well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of loco-regional, recurrent, and well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five recurrent well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas (RTC) in 32 patients were treated with RFA, between March 2008 and October 2011. RTCs were detected by regular follow-up ultrasound and confirmed by biopsy. All patients had fewer than 3 RTCs in the neck and were at high surgical risk or refused to undergo repeated surgery. Average number of RFA sessions were 1.3 (range 1-3). Post-RFA biopsy and ultrasound were performed. The mean follow-up period was 30 months. Pre- and post-RFA serum thyroglobulin values were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-one patients with 33 RTCs were treated with RFA only, whereas 1 patient with 2 RTCs was treated with RFA followed by surgery. At the last follow-up ultrasound, 31 (94%) of the 33 RTCs treated with RFA alone completely disappeared and the remaining 2 (6%) RTCs showed decreased volume. The largest diameter and volume of the 33 RTCs were markedly decreased by 93.2% (from 8.1 ± 3.4 mm to 0.6 ± 1.8 mm, p < 0.001) and 96.4% (from 173.9 ± 198.7 mm(3) to 6.2 ± 27.9 mm(3), p < 0.001), respectively. Twenty of the 21 RTCs evaluated with post-RFA biopsies (95%) were negative for malignancy. One (5%) showed remaining tumor that was removed surgically. The serum thyroglobulin was decreased in 19 of 26 patients (73%). Voice change developed immediately after RFA in 6 patients (19%) and was spontaneously recovered in 5 patients (83%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radiofrequency ablation can be effective in treating loco-regional, recurrent, and well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma in patients at high surgical risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul 156-755, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: So Lyung
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Bum Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Kook Jin
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Jun
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Hee
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Ja Seong
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Bae
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Min Sik
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Chan Kwon
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Seoul 156-755, Korea.
authors.forename: Se Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013954:Thyroglobulin / Q000097:blood; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D013954:Thyroglobulin
keywords: Efficacy; Radiofrequency ablation; Recurrent thyroid cancer; Thyroid; Ultrasound