Investigators intend to evaluate the efficiency of Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy to treat papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Investigators plan to identify patients with small papillary thyroid carcinoma and subject such patients to radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy.

Following RFA procedure patients will be monitored to study the changes in primary tumor volume, development of lymph node involvement, development of distant metastasis and changes in serum thyroid hormone levels.

Investigators will also assess the stability of these changes (need for repeat therapy) and the safety of the RFA procedure.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Are adults

• Nodule with Papillary thyroid carcinoma meeting the below criteria:

  • Diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology.
  • Size < 1.5 cm
  • Non-surgical therapy is considered acceptable by the treating physician
  • Radiology evaluation deems the lesion amenable to RFA therapy with minimal risk of complication

Exclusion Criteria:

• Clinical evidence for a multifocal papillary thyroid malignancy
• Clinical evidence for local or distant metastatic disease
• Pregnancy
• Vocal cord paralysis on contralateral side
• Coagulopathy or patients on anticoagulation therapy
• Patients with prior neck surgery or neck radiation
• Patients with neck anatomy that precludes easy access by RFA
• Patients with comorbidities deemed too high of a risk for general anesthesia
• Treatment with another investigational drug or intervention (within 6 weeks of planned RFA).
• Current drug or alcohol use or dependence that, in the opinion of the site investigator, would interfere with adherence to study requirements.

Adults (18 years or older) who had Bethesda V or VI cytologic confirmation of a single-lesion small PTC (measuring less than 2 cm in largest diameter, without lymph node metastasis on neck ultrasonography) who refused standard therapy (surgical procedure or active surveillance) and underwent radiofrequency ablation. The electronic medical records of the patients were reviewed, and those without available follow-up data were excluded.

24 months