Scholarlink

Purpose <p>To evaluate the efficacy and safety of thermal ablation (TA) for cervical lymph node metastases (LNMs) from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to assess the impact of nodal size on treatment outcomes.</p> Methods <p>This retrospective single center study analyzed 87 patients (177 LNMs, ≤ 5 nodes per patient) who underwent percutaneous TA from July 2018 to July 2024. Technical success, volume reduction rate (VRR), nodule disappearance, disease progression, and complications were assessed. Kaplan–Meier, Cox regression, and decision tree analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors and optimal cut-off values for nodal diameter.</p> Results <p>TA achieved 100% technical success, with a mean VRR of 98.2 ± 8.1% and node disappearance rate in 94.3% of cases at a median follow-up of 34 months. Multivariable analysis identified LNM diameter (HR 2.02; 95% CI 1.15–3.56; <i>P</i> = 0.014) and location (lateral vs. central: HR 2.84; 95% CI 1.04–7.76; <i>P</i> = 0.042) as independent predictors of progression. Decision tree and Kaplan–Meier analyses indicated LNMs ≤ 2.4&#xa0;cm as a practical threshold balancing efficacy and procedural burden. Major complications were rare (2.3%, transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury), with no permanent morbidity.</p> Conclusion <p>TA is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for selected patients with up to five LNMs from PTC. Smaller LNM diameter was associated with a lower risk of disease progression after TA, and the data-derived 2.4-cm cutoff may serve as a preliminary reference for patient selection.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Thermal ablation of lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma: node size impacts outcomes

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年8月1日

查看全文
  • Wen-jia Cai,
  • Zhen-long Zhao,
  • Ying Wei,
  • Jie Wu,
  • Shi-liang Cao,
  • Yan Li,
  • Li-li Peng,
  • Shu-qi Li,
  • Ming-an Yu

摘要

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of thermal ablation (TA) for cervical lymph node metastases (LNMs) from papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and to assess the impact of nodal size on treatment outcomes.

Methods

This retrospective single center study analyzed 87 patients (177 LNMs, ≤ 5 nodes per patient) who underwent percutaneous TA from July 2018 to July 2024. Technical success, volume reduction rate (VRR), nodule disappearance, disease progression, and complications were assessed. Kaplan–Meier, Cox regression, and decision tree analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors and optimal cut-off values for nodal diameter.

Results

TA achieved 100% technical success, with a mean VRR of 98.2 ± 8.1% and node disappearance rate in 94.3% of cases at a median follow-up of 34 months. Multivariable analysis identified LNM diameter (HR 2.02; 95% CI 1.15–3.56; P = 0.014) and location (lateral vs. central: HR 2.84; 95% CI 1.04–7.76; P = 0.042) as independent predictors of progression. Decision tree and Kaplan–Meier analyses indicated LNMs ≤ 2.4 cm as a practical threshold balancing efficacy and procedural burden. Major complications were rare (2.3%, transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury), with no permanent morbidity.

Conclusion

TA is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for selected patients with up to five LNMs from PTC. Smaller LNM diameter was associated with a lower risk of disease progression after TA, and the data-derived 2.4-cm cutoff may serve as a preliminary reference for patient selection.