Radiofrequency ablation to treat loco-regional recurrence of well-differentiated XXXX .

@entity1 @entity259 @entity5
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in the treatment of loco-regional, recurrent, and well-differentiated @entity259 . MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five recurrent well-differentiated @entity259 (RTC) in 32 @entity1 were treated with RFA, between March 2008 and October 2011. RTCs were detected by regular follow-up ultrasound and confirmed by biopsy. All @entity1 had fewer than 3 RTCs in the neck and were at high surgical risk or refused to undergo repeated surgery. Average number of RFA sessions were 1.3 (range 1-3). Post-RFA biopsy and ultrasound were performed. The mean follow-up period was 30 months. Pre- and post-RFA serum thyroglobulin values were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirty-one @entity1 with 33 RTCs were treated with RFA only, whereas 1 @entity1 with 2 RTCs was treated with RFA followed by surgery. At the last follow-up ultrasound, 31 (94%) of the 33 RTCs treated with RFA alone completely disappeared and the remaining 2 (6%) RTCs showed decreased volume. The largest diameter and volume of the 33 RTCs were markedly decreased by 93.2% (from 8.1    3.4 mm to 0.6    1.8 mm, p < 0.001) and 96.4% (from 173.9    198.7 mm(3) to 6.2    27.9 mm(3), p < 0.001), respectively. Twenty of the 21 RTCs evaluated with post-RFA biopsies (95%) were negative for @entity5 . One (5%) showed remaining @entity5 that was removed surgically. The serum thyroglobulin was decreased in 19 of 26 @entity1 (73%). Voice change developed immediately after RFA in 6 @entity1 (19%) and was spontaneously recovered in 5 @entity1 (83%). CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency ablation can be effective in treating loco-regional, recurrent, and well-differentiated @entity259 in @entity1 at high surgical risk.
