Radiofrequency ablation versus total thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma located in the isthmus: a retrospective cohort study

Objective This retrospective study aimed to examine the benefits and complications of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) in the isthmus. Methods This retrospective study included patients with PTMC in the isthmus and treated at the Chinese People's Liberation Army hospital from 05/2014 to 05/2018. The patients were divided into the RFA and total thyroidectomy (TT) groups. The outcomes were operation-related complications, rate of recurrence, metastasis rate, and thyroid carcinoma-specific questionnaire of quality of life (THYCA-QOL). Results Among 218 patients, 115 patients underwent RFA, and 103 underwent TT. The rates of disappearance of the ablation zone at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after RFA were 0.8% (1/115), 10.4% (12/115), 51.3% (59/115), 90.4% (104/115), and 100% (115/115), respectively. Surgical time, blood loss, hospital stays, and treatment costs were higher with TT than with RFA (all p < 0.001). The final THYCA-QOL score of the RFA group was significantly higher than in the TT group (p < 0.001). Minor pain at the operation site was seen in all patients in the RFA group. No distant metastasis was detected in all patients, but one patient in the RFA group had a recurrence after 6 months. The final THYCA-QOL score of the RFA group was significantly lower than in the TT group (p < 0.001). Conclusion These results suggest that RFA for PTMC in the isthmus had similar outcomes than TT. It will have to be confirmed in future studies.

Automated summary

In this retrospective study, it was found that RFA had similar outcomes to TT in patients with PTMC in the isthmus. RFA group had lower surgical time, blood loss, hospital stays, and treatment costs compared to the TT group. Although minor pain at the operation site was observed in all RFA patients, no distant metastasis was detected except for one case of recurrence after 6 months.