Preliminary Report Examining Efficacy and Safety of Radiofrequency Ablation for the Treatment of Skin-Involving Recurrent Thyroid Cancer
Authors' conclusion
RFA might serve as a promising approach for managing skin-involving recurrent thyroid cancer, with no major complications reported in this preliminary study. Recurrent tumors involving the epidermis/dermis may pose a higher risk of skin burns than tumors involving the hypodermis.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with skin-involving recurrent thyroid cancer treated with ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA), May 2008–March 2023; mean age 67.9 ± 14.4 years; 31 females; 50 tumors50 tumors
- Participants
- 43 patients
- Exposure
- Epidermis/dermis vs Hypodermis
- Hypodermisn = 31reference
- Outcome
- Technique efficacy (absence of detectable vasculature and volume reduction)
- Follow-up
- 1 year
Methodological details88 RFA sessions (mean, 1.8; range: 1-6)
- 88 RFA sessions (mean, 1.8; range: 1-6)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Technique efficacy, all tumors (36/50)
72%
CI: 59.6–84.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Subgroup: technique efficacy, epidermis/dermis vs hypodermis · no statistical difference
P = 0.085
Subgroup: clinical success rate · no statistical difference
P = 0.265
Subgroup: complete disappearance rate · no statistical difference
P = 0.541
Mean
| Outcome | Epidermis/dermis | Hypodermis | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subgroup: mean VRRNo statistical difference | 65.5% | 84.6% | P = 0.141 |
Clinical success, complete disappearance and volume reduction ratio (VRR), all tumors · last follow-up (median [IQR]: 2.7 [1.1-4.5] years)
- Clinical success rate (44/50)
- 86%
- Complete disappearance rate (27/50)
- 54%
- Mean VRR
- 77.3% ± 44.2%
Safety
| Outcome | Epidermis/dermis | Hypodermis |
|---|---|---|
| Skin burns per treatment session | 4.9% (CI 0–11.3%) | 0 events |
- Skin burns per treatment session: 2/41 epidermis/dermis procedures
Life-threatening or major complications
- Patients with life-threatening or major complications
- 0
Original publication
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