Microwave Ablation and Surgical Resection for Micropapillary Thyroid Carcinoma

The study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) treated with microwave ablation(MWA) and surgery resection (SR), and to explore the tumor characteristics suitable for each treatment methods (such as with and without capsular invasion). The investigators organized 18 hospitals to participate in this multicenter study. Patients meeting following indications will be included in this study: 1. Biopsy pathology proved PTMC, but not high-risk subtype; 2. solitary mPTC, without US-detected gross extrathyroid extension; 3. no evidence of metastasis; 4 willing to participate in this study and perform regular follow-up. Patients themselves decide to receive MWA or SR for mPTC after medical consultation. Baseline characteristic including age, gender, thyroid function et al. will be collected. The treatment protocols of MWA and SR were according to the Chinese and international guidelines. The primary outcomes were the disease progression, including local tumor recurrence, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis. The secondary outcomes include thyroid function, complication rate, blood loss et al. Investigators will follow up enrolled patients and collect and upload data according to the trial. Treatment outcomes of tumor with and without US-detected capsular invasion was analyzes as subgroups.

Sex

All

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

75 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* Biopsy pathology proved micropapillary thyroid carcinoma(mPTC), but not high-risk subtype
* Solitary mPTC, without US-detected gross extrathyroid extension
* No evidence of metastasis
* Willing to participate in this study and perform regular follow-up

Exclusion Criteria:

* Severe blood coagulation dysfunction (platelet count \< 50x109/L cells or INR\>1.5)
* Acute or severe chronic renal failure, pulmonary insufficiency or heart dysfunction
* Poor control of blood pressure(systolic pressure≥150mmHg or diastolic pressure≥95mmHg)
* Poor control of blood glucose(fasting glucose\>10mmol/L)
* The opposite vocal cords dysfunction
* Diagnosed with other malignant tumors
* Pregnant and lactating women
* Other conditions that investigator believe are not appropriate to be enrolled

• DERIVEDZheng L, Du QW, Dou JP, Liu FY, Yu J, Cheng ZG, Yu XL, Tan SL, Wang H, Cong ZB, Wang SR, Yu MA, Xu ZF, Che Y, Bai N, Liu C, Huo SN, Hao Y, Wang X, Liu Y, Zhou Y, Han ZY, Liang P. Microwave ablation for T1N0M0 papillary thyroid carcinoma located in the isthmus: a multicenter prospective cohort study with over 5-year follow-up. Ther Adv Med Oncol. 2026 Apr 24;18:17588359261442628. doi: 10.1177/17588359261442628. eCollection 2026. PMID 42064641
• DERIVEDDou J, Zheng L, Han Z, Che Y, Wang S, Cong Z, Hao Y, Zhou Y, Huo S, Liang P. Microwave Ablation Versus Thyroid Lobectomy for Solitary cT1aN0M0 Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma: A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study. Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes. 2026 Feb 27;10(2):100696. doi: 10.1016/j.mayocpiqo.2026.100696. eCollection 2026 Apr. PMID 41800228
• DERIVEDZheng L, Dou JP, Han ZY, Liu FY, Yu J, Cheng ZG, Yu XL, Wang H, Cong ZB, Wang SR, Yu MA, Xu ZF, Che Y, Nan B, Liu C, Hao Y, Wang X, Liu Y, Zhou Y, Liang P. Microwave Ablation for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma with and without US-detected Capsule Invasion: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study. Radiology. 2023 May;307(3):e220661. doi: 10.1148/radiol.220661. Epub 2023 Mar 7. PMID 36880949