title: Efficacy and Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation for Treatment of Locally Recurrent Thyroid Cancers Smaller than 2 cm.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for localized small recurrent thyroid cancers less than 2 cm by comparing them with those at repeat surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective study was institutional review board-approved, and informed consent was waived. From December 2008 to December 2011, this study evaluated 73 patients (17 men and 56 women; age, 50.3 years ± 13.6) with recurrent thyroid cancer who had been treated with RFA (n = 27) or repeat surgery (n = 46) who met the following criteria: (a) three or fewer recurrences or lesions with high probability of recurrence at ultrasonography; (b) no tumor other than the target tumors; and (c) at least 1 year of follow-up. RFA was recommended and performed in cases of surgical ineligibility, such as patient refusal and poor medical condition. Recurrence-free survival rates and posttreatment complication rates (eg, hoarseness and hypocalcemia) were compared between RFA and reoperation groups after adjustment with weighted analysis by using inverse probability of treatment weights.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After this adjustment, the 1- and 3-year recurrence-free survival rates were comparable (P = .681) for RFA (96.0% and 92.6%, respectively) and reoperation (92.2% and 92.2%, respectively) groups. The posttreatment hoarseness rate did not differ between the RFA (7.3% [1.8 of 24]) and reoperation (9.0% [3.6 of 39.5]) groups (P = .812), and posttreatment hypocalcemia occurred exclusively in the reoperation group (11.6% [4.6 of 39.5]) but not in the RFA group (0% [0 of 24]) (P = .083).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RFA may be an effective and safe alternative to repeat surgery in patients with locally recurrent small thyroid cancers.
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Ji-hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Won Sang
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Young Joo
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Do Joon
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Tae Jin
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Seung Hong
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Chul-Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Sohn
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Kyu Eun
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Myung-Whun
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Yeo-Kyu
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Kwang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: From the Departments of Radiology (J.H.K., T.J.Y., S.H.C., C.H.S.), Internal Medicine (W.S.Y., Y.J.P., D.J.P., B.Y.C.), Surgery (K.E.L., Y.K.Y.), and Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (M.W.S.), Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Internal Medicine, Dankook University Hospital, Republic of Korea (W.S.Y.); Department of Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea (K.H.K.); and Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, 224-1 Heukseok-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 156-755, Republic of Korea (B.Y.C.).
authors.forename: Bo Youn
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D017115:Catheter Ablation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D047368:Tumor Burden