Endocrine Abstracts

Purpose: Papillary thyroid cancer is the most common type of thyroid carcinoma and represents approximately 80% of all thyroid cancers. The aim of the study is an evaluation of the treatment results of micropapillary thyroid carcinoma by the radiofrequency ablation (RFA).

Materials and methods: Fourteen patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma T1aN0M0 with wild type of BRAF (V600E) were included in this research: 12 women and 2 men. The median age of the group was 36 (24–42). The mean nodule size was 0.7 (0.3–1.0) cm. In 12 cases nodules had solid content, in 1 case – mixed solid and cystic content. The mean duration of RFA was 7 (3–12) min. All the procedures were performed under local anesthesia with real time ultrasound control. Technique of dynamic RFA was applied. Internally cooled 7–10 cm length, 0.5, 0.7, 1.0 cm active tip electrodes were used. During the procedure permanent control of hoarse voice was carried out to avoid complications. The follow-up period of patients was 2–15 months.

Results: An ultrasound was used for evaluation of the efficacy of RFA at the first month of the follow-up. An elevation of echogenicity in the ablation area and the loss of Doppler signals were seen. None of the patients experienced any major complications.

Conclusion: RFA is a minimally invasive technique for treatment of micropapillary thyroid carcinoma with high clinical efficacy.