Microthyroid papillary cancer, confirming the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency ablation...96% of patients are missing tumors
Feb 23, 2025
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In 95.9% of patients with microthyroid papillary cancer who underwent radiofrequency ablation, the tumor completely disappeared, the mental and social quality of life continued to improve after the procedure, and there were few side effects. In addition, it is expected that radiofrequency ablation will be a new treatment option with less physical burden, as follow-up confirmed that the women who underwent the procedure were pregnant and gave birth healthily.
A research team led by Professor Kim Ji-hoon and Professor Lee Ji-ye of the Department of Radiology at Seoul National University Hospital and Professor Park Young-joo of the Department of Endocrine Metabolism recently announced the results of a prospective analysis of the effectiveness and safety of radiofrequency ablation by following 98 patients with microthyroid papillary cancer aged 12 to 60 who underwent radiofrequency ablation for up to 4.8 years.
Microthyroid papillary cancer with a tumor size of less than 1 cm is a cancer with a slow progression and good prognosis. Thyroidectomy or active observation is recommended as a treatment option. More and more patients are opting for 'active observation' to watch the tumor condition undergoing tests to avoid surgery, but this can cause anxiety in patients due to the possibility of cancer progressing. Therefore, new alternative treatment options for microthyroid papillary cancer were needed.
Instead of surgery or active observation, the research team analyzed 98 patients with microthyroid papillary cancer who chose a non-invasive treatment called 'high frequency resection'. High-frequency ablation is a treatment that necrosis of tumors and surrounding tissues by high fever by inserting fine needles, and the necrotic tissues naturally disappear over time.
High frequency resection was successfully performed in all patients, and the research team prospectively tracked their resection area (high frequency necrotic area), cancer progression, side effects, and quality of life.
Following up to 4.8 years of follow-up, the ablation area continued to decrease after the procedure, completely disappearing from 95.9% of all patients at the final follow-up. The cancer progression rate was 3%, and most patients did not develop or metastasize cancer. As a side effect, temporary vocal cord paralysis occurred in one patient, but it recovered after 6 months and no other complications occurred during the entire follow-up period.
Additionally, as a result of the Thyroid Quality of Life Survey (on a 10-point scale), post-procedure mental quality of life (7.3 vs 8.0) and social quality of life (8.0 vs 8.7) both increased continuously for more than 2 years. On the other hand, the physical score did not decrease significantly (8.6 vs. 8.5), indicating that cancer could be effectively eliminated while having fewer side effects and minimizing psychological burdens.
In addition, nine women were confirmed to have conceived and delivered healthy without cancer recurrence or complications after radiofrequency ablation, so the treatment, which has little hormonal change or physical burden, may be particularly suitable for young female patients planning to conceive, the research team explained.
Professor Kim Ji-hoon (Department of Radiology) said, "In addition to surgery or active observation as a treatment option for patients with microthyroid papillary cancer, it seems that this study can consider radiofrequency ablation, which has proven effective and safe." and added, "Relevant systems and expert agreements need to be prepared so that radiofrequency ablation, which has accumulated a lot of clinical evidence worldwide, can be properly established without misuse in Korea." The findings were published in the recent issue of the American Thyroid Society.
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This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
