A cohort study of microwave ablation and surgery for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Yuan Zu, Yujiang Liu, Junfeng Zhao, Peipei Yang, Jianming Li, Linxue Qian
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment method for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is lacking consensus. Here we aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of surgery and microwave ablation (MWA) for PTMC. METHODS: The clinical data of 644 patients with PTMC treated between July 2013 and June 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. A total of 320 and 324 patients underwent MWA and surgery, respectively. We observed lesion changes in the MWA group and compared the recurrence, metastasis, complications, and other health economic indicators between the 2 groups. RESULTS: < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: MWA is effective for treating PTMC, with a low incidence of complications and less trauma. The rates of post-treatment recurrence and metastasis are similar to those of surgery, indicating that MWA is a suitable alternative to surgery.