Aim: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous laser ablation (PLA) for recurrent papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) <15 mm in the neck.
Materials and methods: A retrospective study was conducted in 21 patients with 27 recurrent PTC lesions who underwent PLA. The extent of ablation was assessed by contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) after PLA. Measurement of the volume of tumour and serum thyroglobulin, and clinical evaluation were performed at 7 days, and 1, 3, 6, and 12 months, and every 6 months thereafter.
Results: The procedure was well tolerated. Of 21 patients, 18 were successfully treated in a single session. Incomplete ablation was detected by CEUS in three patients, and a second ablation was performed. The mean largest diameter and the average baseline volume were reduced from 7.5±2.8 mm and 105.4±114 mm3 to 0.4±1 mm and 0.8±2.4 mm3 at the final follow-up.
Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided PLA is effective for the treatment of recurrent PTCs with a comparable success rate to radio-iodine therapy, and it may become a primary choice of treatment for recurrent PTCs in selected patients who are ineligible for surgery and/or prefer not to have further surgery.
Copyright © 2016 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.