Project description:Although differentiated thyroid cancer has an excellent prognosis and low mortality, its recurrence rate has been reported to be very high. While surgery is recommended as the standard treatment for recurrent thyroid cancer, reoperation may increase the incidence of complications due to fibrosis and anatomical distortion. In patients with high surgical risk or those who refuse repeated surgery, ultrasonography-guided ablation techniques including radiofrequency ablation, ethanol ablation, and laser ablation are suggested as alternative treatments. In this manuscript, we introduce an anatomy-based management concept for radiofrequency ablation for recurrent thyroid cancer, and present a review of the relevant literature, including indications, basic techniques, clinical outcomes, and complications.
Project description:Reoperative thyroid surgery is rare and has a high complication rate. This retrospective cohort study was performed to determine the recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and hypoparathyroidism rates after reoperative thyroid surgery in two university hospitals in Benghazi, Libya.All consecutive patients who underwent reoperative thyroid surgery between January 2002 and July 2014 were included retrospectively. The cohort was divided according to whether the reoperation was in the previously operated lobe or both lobes (ipsilateral group), or only in the previously non-operated lobe (contralateral group).Of the 73 patients, 66 were female and seven were male. The median age was 37 (19-80) years. Nine (12.3%), five (6.8%), and one (1.4%) patient developed postoperative transient hypocalcemia, transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, respectively. None of the patients developed permanent hypocalcemia. The ipsilateral group had a higher rate of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after reoperation than the contralateral group (3.1% vs. 0%). It also had higher rates of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (12.5% vs. 2.4%) and transient hypocalcemia (28.1% vs. 0%), but the two groups did not differ in terms of permanent hypocalcemia rates (both 0%).Reoperative thyroid surgery is technically challenging with a high incidence of complications. The ipsilateral group had more complications after reoperative thyroid surgery than the contralateral group. Hemi- or total thyroidectomy at the primary surgery is recommended to reduce the frequency of reoperative thyroid surgery.
Project description:Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been a representative, non-surgical treatment for benign thyroid nodules that cause cosmetic problems or compression symptoms. The procedure of RFA should be performed effectively and safely. This review discusses the patient selection, pre-procedure evaluation and planning, principles, devices, techniques, and complications with reference to the guidelines and research on thyroid RFA. In particular, this review will devote to introduce RFA techniques and to provide practical help in the implementation of this procedure.
Project description:Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive ablative modality for the treatment of thyroid nodules. Reports of RFA use have demonstrated an impressive safety profile and excellent volume reduction rates between 60-90%. Given its increased popularity in the United States as well as globally, numerous recent works have been published and a discussant of relevant complications incorporating recent insight may assist practitioners in minimizing complications and optimizing patient outcomes. Herein, we provide a comprehensive and updated review of the reported complications and side effects following RFA, summarizing their frequency and clinical presentation. We also describe a means of minimizing such complications and/or side effects. Overall, the safety profile of RFA is impressive and superior to that of thyroid surgery. The overall risk of complication is reportedly 2-3%. The risk of permanent complication or severe injury is very unlikely, below 1%. Complications are infrequent, but may be nerve-related, endocrine-related, or iatrogenic-related, and consequences of localized heat delivery. The vast majority of complications related to RFA can be managed conservatively, without need for invasive measures. This review will assist surgeons and clinicians in recognizing and treating the various complications and side effects in clinical practice.
Project description:ObjectiveThis systematic review examined whether radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a safe treatment modality for benign thyroid nodules (BTNs).Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library database were searched for articles that (a) targeted human beings and (b) had a study population with BTNs that were confirmed by fine-needle aspiration cytology and/or core needle biopsy.Study selectionThirty-two studies relating to 3409 patients were included in this systematic review.ResultsBased on literatures, no deaths were associated with the procedure, serious complications were rare, and RFA appears to be a safe and well-tolerated treatment modality. However, a broad spectrum of complications offers insights into some undesirable complications, such as track needle seeding and Horner syndrome.ConclusionsRFA appears to be a safe and well-tolerated treatment modality for BTNs. More research is needed to characterize the complications of RFA for thyroid nodules.
Project description:The pathophysiology of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) transection injury is rare in that it is characteristically followed by a high degree of spontaneous reinnervation, with reinnervation of the laryngeal adductor complex (AC) preceding that of the abducting posterior cricoarytenoid (PCA) muscle. Here, we aim to elucidate the differentially expressed myogenic factors following RLN injury that may be at least partially responsible for the spontaneous reinnervation. F344 male rats underwent RLN injury or sham surgery (n=12). One week after RLN injury, larynges were harvested following euthanasia. mRNA was extracted from PCA and AC muscles bilaterally, and microarray analysis was performed using a full rat genome array. Microarray analysis of denervated AC and PCA muscles demonstrated dramatic differences in gene expression profiles, with 205 individual probes that were differentially expressed between the denervated AC and PCA muscles, and only 14 genes with similar expression patterns. The differential expression patterns of the AC and PCA suggest different mechanisms of reinnervation. The PCA showed the gene patterns of Wallerian degeneration, while the AC expressed the gene patterns of reinnervation by adjacent axonal sprouting. This finding may reveal important therapeutic targets applicable to RLN and other peripheral nerve injuries. Compare mRNA expression from injured tissue (recurrent laryngeal nerve transection injury) to normal tissue from two tissues laryngeal adductor complex and posterior cricoarytenoid muscles.
Project description:Background and objectiveRadiofrequency ablation (RFA) has been used in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules for the past 20 years. The adaptation of RFA to benign autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTNs) has been introduced into clinical practice with variable efficacy and outcomes published in the literature. To better understand international practices, we performed a literature search to better elucidate the efficacy and outcomes in the treatment of AFTNs with RFA.MethodsComprehensive literature searches were independently conducted by two investigators on PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus in October of 2022 to identify articles reporting AFTN treated by RFA using the terms "RFA", "radiofrequency ablation", "thyroid nodule", "toxic nodules", and "autonomous functioning thyroid nodule". Papers were selected by relevance of the title or abstract, and the date of publication.Key content and findingsIn patients with toxic nodules, studies have shown 50% remission rate one year after single session of RFA, up to 71% after second dose. Adverse events are generally limited to postoperative pain lasting less than one day, however there are reports of self-limited voice changes, and self-limited hypothyroidism. RFA has been shown to be safe with no reported instances of post-procedure hypothyroidism or hypocalcemia when compared to radioactive iodine (RAI) and surgery.ConclusionsRFA is an acceptable alternative to surgical resection for the treatment of AFTNs in selective patients, however more studies on long-term hyperthyroidism remission rates and nodule regrowth are necessary for further applications.
Project description:OBJECTIVE:To report on the use of RFA for the treatment of symptomatic benign and autonomously functioning thyroid nodules (AFTNs) in the first reported UK cohort. METHODS:Patients treated over a 19-month period were retrospectively reviewed. Nodules were assessed pre-treatment and at 1 and 6?months post-treatment. Nodule volume was calculated and cosmetic assessment and thyroid-related quality of life (QoL) scores were recorded at each time point. Thyroid function tests (TFTs) were recorded at all three time points for patients with ATFNs. RESULTS:46 patients with 50 nodules were treated with no complications. The mean volume reduction 1-month post-treatment was 53 +- 14.9 % ( p < 0.0001). Six month data was available for 31 nodules and showed a mean 67 +- 17.6%?vol reduction ( p < 0.0001). Five of the six patients with ATFNs were euthyroid at 1-month post-procedure. 6-month data was available on three of these patients, and all remained euthyroid. The thyroid-related QoL and cosmetic scores also improved. Data from 23 patients was available pre-treatment and at 6?months post-treatment and there was a significant ( p < 0.0001) reduction in QoL score. Pre-treatment, 82 % of nodules were readily visible at rest, decreasing to 12.5 % 6 months after treatment ( p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS:Results align with published data suggesting that RFA is effective at reducing nodule volume and at treating ATFNs and leads to improvement in thyroid-related QoL and cosmetic scores. ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:This early UK experience demonstrates that day-case radiofrequency ablation can provide safe and effective treatment of benign symptomatic thyroid nodules.
Project description:Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive treatment modality used as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers. In Korea, RFA for thyroid nodules was first performed in 2002, and a large population study was published in 2008. The Task Force Committee of the Korean Society of Thyroid Radiology (KSThR) developed its first recommendations for RFA in 2009, which were revised in 2012 and 2018. The KSThR guideline was the first guideline for RFA of thyroid nodules worldwide and has become a guideline for physicians to perform thyroid RFA in Korea and other countries around the world. These guidelines have contributed significantly to the establishment and widespread use of RFA worldwide. In addition, since 2015, the KSThR has conducted intensive hands-on courses depending on the level of the participants. In this article, the authors introduce the history of eduction for RFA conducted by the KSThR and describe the learning curve of RFA and current training programs in Korea, along with future directions for training programs.