Ultrasonography-guided radiofrequency ablation vs. surgery for the treatment of solitary T1bN0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma: A comparative study.

Objective: Ultrasonography-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used to treat low-risk small papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and yielded promising results. However, little research has been conducted on the application of RFA for the management of T1bN0M0 PTC. Therefore, this study was to compare the midterm outcome of RFA with that of surgery for the treatment of clinical solitary T1bN0M0 PTC.

Design: This is a retrospective study.

Patients: In total, 182 patients with solitary T1bN0M0 PTC between April 2014 and May 2019 were treated with RFA or surgery (n = 91/group).

Measurements: The primary end points were local tumour progression and complication rates. Local tumour progression were defined as: (a) new or persistent PTC confirmed by core needle biopsy; (b) cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM) confirmed by core needle biopsy or surgery; (c) ablation zone increased in the RFA group.

Results: In the RFA group, local tumour progression was seen in four patients (4.4%, three persistent PTC and one LNM). In the surgery group, two patients (2.2%) developed LNM; no new or persistent PTC was confirmed. There was no significant difference between the two groups in local tumour progression. Permanent hypoparathyroidism was observed in four patients (4.4%) in the surgery group, while no major or minor complications were observed in the RFA group.

Conclusions: Ultrasonography-guided RFA is feasible and safe for treating solitary T1bN0M0 PTC, so it may be considered an alternative to surgery in select patients, especially those who are ineligible for or refusal of surgery.