School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
Department of Ultrasound, The First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
Int J Hyperthermia. 2021;38(1):604-610. doi: 10.1080/02656736.2021.1912416.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in patients aged 55 years or older.
This retrospective study included 95 patients aged 55 years or older who underwent radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for PTMCs between June 2014 and January 2019. Incidence and duration of postoperative complications were recorded and evaluated. Tumor volume and volume reduction rate (VRR) changes were calculated. Patients were also closely monitored for tumor recurrence, regrowth, and lymph node metastasis.
All nodules were completely ablated. The mean initial volume of the ablated thyroid nodules was 107.27 ± 99.10 mm, and the volume decreased significantly during the follow-up time. The VRR in 1st, 3rd, 6th, 12th, 18th, 24th and 36th month were -591.64 ± 623.65%, -170.89 ± 319.51%, 9.74 ± 128.43%, 77.99 ± 45.26%, 99.35 ± 3.61%, 99.45 ± 3.05% and 99.78 ± 1.54%, respectively. No patient had any life-threatening complications. One patient had lymph node metastasis and one had a recurrence; both underwent a second radiofrequency ablation treatment and achieved satisfactory treatment results.
Our study suggests that radiofrequency ablation is a safe and effective option for low-risk PTMC in patients aged 55 years or older who are at a high risk of general anesthesia and postoperative complications or those who refuse surgery.
评估射频消融术治疗 55 岁及以上低危甲状腺微小乳头状癌（PTMC）的疗效和安全性。
本回顾性研究纳入了 2014 年 6 月至 2019 年 1 月期间因 PTMC 接受射频消融术（RFA）治疗的 95 名 55 岁及以上的患者。记录并评估了术后并发症的发生率和持续时间。计算了肿瘤体积和体积减少率（VRR）的变化。还密切监测了患者的肿瘤复发、再生长和淋巴结转移情况。
所有结节均完全消融。消融甲状腺结节的平均初始体积为 107.27 ± 99.10mm，在随访期间体积明显减小。第 1、3、6、12、18、24 和 36 个月的 VRR 分别为-591.64 ± 623.65%、-170.89 ± 319.51%、9.74 ± 128.43%、77.99 ± 45.26%、99.35 ± 3.61%、99.45 ± 3.05%和 99.78 ± 1.54%。无患者发生任何危及生命的并发症。1 例患者发生淋巴结转移，1 例患者复发；两者均接受了第二次射频消融治疗，取得了满意的治疗效果。
我们的研究表明，射频消融术是一种安全有效的治疗选择，适用于 55 岁及以上、全麻和术后并发症风险较高、或拒绝手术的低危 PTMC 患者。
