Radiofrequency ablation of metastatic lymph nodes in a patient requiring secondary operation for papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasis.

Abstract

Radiofrequency ablation is a minimally invasive modality performed as an alternative to surgery in patients with benign thyroid nodules and recurrent thyroid cancers. As far we know there is scant data regarding the safety of radiofrequency ablation for metastatic lymph nodes. In this report, our aim was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency ablation for metastatic lymph nodes in patients with recurrent papillary thyroid cancer metastasis. A 63-year old man, who underwent bilateral total thyroidectomy procedure in a different hospital with the diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer one year ago, was diagnosed to have papillary thyroid cancer metastasis in single lymph nodes bilaterally in his follow-up. He underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation under ultrasound guidance. He was discharged home on post-operative day one uneventfully and his first control ultrasonography revealed a decrease in nodule size larger than 50% in right side of the neck and also the nodule in the left side disappeared. In conclusion, radiofrequency ablation is a safe and feasible technique for the treatment of metastatic lymph nodes in patients requiring secondary surgery due to papillary thyroid cancer metastasis.