Radiofrequency Ablation for Low Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Pilot Study
Radiofrequency Ablation for Low Risk Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Pilot Study
RATIONALE: Radiofrequency ablation uses a high-frequency, electric current to kill tumor cells. Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation may be effective treatment for thyroid cancer.
PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects of radiofrequency ablation in treating patients who are undergoing surgery for thyroid cancer.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: This is a pilot study.
An electrosurgical probe is placed by ultrasound guidance into the center of the thyroid tumor. Patients undergo radiofrequency ablation directly to the tumor until the target temperature is reached* for 5 minutes. Patients then undergo standard thyroidectomy.
NOTE: *Takes approximately 15-30 minutes to reach target temperature.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed at day 1, between days 14-21, and then periodically as deemed necessary.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 15-40 patients will be accrued for this study.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Cytologically confirmed papillary thyroid cancer by fine needle aspiration
Intrathyroidal tumor
Tumor ≤ 1.5 cm by neck ultrasound
Requires thyroidectomy
No cervical lymphadenopathy
No multicentric tumors by neck ultrasound
No evidence of lymph node metastasis
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age
Performance status
Life expectancy
Hematopoietic
Hepatic
Renal
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic therapy
Chemotherapy
Endocrine therapy
Radiotherapy
Surgery