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Inoperable Symptomatic Recurrent Thyroid Cancers: Preliminary Result of Radiofrequency Ablation

  • Head and Neck Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Purpose

To determine the role of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with inoperable symptomatic recurrent thyroid cancers.

Materials and Methods

Eleven patients with 16 symptomatic recurrent thyroid cancers but ineligible for surgery were prospectively enrolled and underwent ultrasound-guided RFA with local anesthesia in 16 sessions. The mean tumor volume and diameter were 9 ml (range 0.1–34 ml) and 2.9 cm (range 0.7–4.8 cm), respectively. Patients had dysphagia, hoarseness, dyspnea, or a protruding mass due to recurrent tumors. Tumor volume was calculated from follow-up ultrasound, and symptoms were assessed after RFA.

Results

Of 16 sessions, tumor ablation was complete in 6, incomplete in 9, and failed in 1. Incomplete or failed ablation was due to intolerable pain, severe calcified lesion, or tumor encasement of major vessels. Of 15 treated lesions, 13 decreased in volume. Regrowth of treated tumors was observed in 2 lesions. The mean volume reduction was 50.9% (range −9.4 to 96.8%). There were gains for symptom relief for 7 patients (63.6%) with protruding masses (n = 6) and discomfort due to tracheal compression (n = 1). The mean follow-up was 6 months (1–14 months). There were no major complications except a patient with skin burn.

Conclusion

RFA is feasible and safe, and can improve symptoms in the short term.

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Acknowledgment

Supported by a grant from the IN-SUNG Foundation for Medical Research, Korea.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology and Center for Imaging Science, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Ko Woon Park MD, Jung Hee Shin MD, PhD, Boo-Kyung Han MD, PhD & Eun Young Ko MD, PhD

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

    Jae Hoon Chung MD, PhD

Authors
  1. Ko Woon Park MD
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  2. Jung Hee Shin MD, PhD
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  3. Boo-Kyung Han MD, PhD
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  4. Eun Young Ko MD, PhD
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  5. Jae Hoon Chung MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jung Hee Shin MD, PhD.

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Park, K.W., Shin, J.H., Han, BK. et al. Inoperable Symptomatic Recurrent Thyroid Cancers: Preliminary Result of Radiofrequency Ablation. Ann Surg Oncol 18, 2564–2568 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-1619-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-1619-1

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