Published online Dec 6, 2018. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v6.i15.936
Peer-review started: September 27, 2018
First decision: October 18, 2018
Revised: October 25, 2018
Accepted: November 7, 2018
Article in press: November 7, 2018
Published online: December 6, 2018
Processing time: 70 Days and 10.3 Hours
To compare the effect and postoperative trauma of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation and surgical resection in the treatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC).
Eighty-seven patients with PTMC treated at Fudan University affiliated Shanghai Fifth People’s Hospital were enrolled as subjects. The patients were divided into a microwave ablation group (41 cases) and a surgical group (46 cases). The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, length of hospital stay, serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), thyroid-related hormonal changes, and complications 7 d and 30 d after surgery were observed.
The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and length of hospital stay in the surgical group were significantly higher than those in the microwave ablation group (P < 0.05). The levels of CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α in the surgical group were significantly higher than those in the microwave ablation group (P < 0.05). The free triiodothyronine (FT3) and free thyroxin (FT4) levels in the surgical group were significantly lower than those in the microwave ablation group (P < 0.05). However, the postoperative thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) level was significantly higher than that in the microwave ablation group (P < 0.05). There were significant interactions between the FT3, FT4, and TSH 7 d and 30 d after operation and the treatment methods (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the complications between the two groups (P > 0.05).
Microwave ablation for papillary microcarcinoma of the thyroid gland has less trauma to the body, quicker recovery, and no scars. It can effectively shorten the length of hospital stay and improve the quality of life of patients.
Core tip: Although thyroidectomy is the standard treatment for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), it causes great trauma to the patient’s body. In recent years, there have been reports on microwave ablation for patients with PTMC, but the efficacy is not certain. This study aimed to compare the efficacy and the impact on body trauma using ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation for PTMC and surgical resection. The results showed that microwave ablation for PTMC has less trauma, quicker recovery, and no scars, which can effectively shorten the hospitalization time and improve the quality of life.