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Hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC） is a major cause of cancer-related death， and surgical resection remains an important method for radical treatment， but it is urgently needed to solve the problem of high postoperative recurrence rate. Neoadjuvant therapy can reduce the high recurrence rate after surgery， and there are little benefits from neoadjuvant therapy for HCC due to a lack of effective treatment methods in the past. At present， combination therapy based on immune checkpoint inhibitors has a relatively high response rate and has thus changed the treatment landscape for patients with advanced HCC. This urges investigators to reexamine the neoadjuvant treatment strategies for HCC， and it is expected that neoadjuvant therapy can provide new opportunities， reduce the postoperative recurrence rate， and improve the survival rate after treatment. This article discusses the current status and prospects of neoadjuvant therapy for HCC and related hot topics， so as to provide more ideas for exploring neoadjuvant therapy for HCC.
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Objective Through comparing ultrasound-guided microwave ablation (MWA) with surgical resection for the treatment of nodular goiter to evaluate the effect of RFA on the thyroid function.Methods A total of 50 patients with nodular goiter,who were admitted to authors' hospital during the period from January 2010 to January 2013 to receive ultrasound-guided MWA,were selected and used as the study group;and other 96 patients with nodular goiter,who were encountered at authors' hospital during the same period to receive partial thyroidectomy,were collected and used as the control group.Of the 50 patients in the study group,RFA of unilateral lobe nodules was performed in 8 and RFA of bilateral lobe nodules in 42.Among the 96 patients in the control group,unilateral lobe nodules were seen in 52 and bilateral lobe nodules in 44.Postoperative complications were recorded,the serum FT3,FT4,TSH levels were determined at one week,as well as one,3,6 and 12 months after the treatment.The results were statistically analyzed.Results All patients were followed up for 12 months.In the study group,no complications occurred;one week after RFA the serum FT3 and FT4 levels increased while the serum TSH level decreased when compared with preoperative ones,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).In the control group,bleeding asphyxia occurred in one patient,hoarseness in 5 patients and hypocalcemia convulsion in 3 patients.One week after partial thyroidectomy,the serum FT3 and FT4 levels increased while the serum TSH level decreased when compared with preoperative data,and the differences were statistically significant (P＜0.05).One week after surgery thyroxine replacement therapy was routinely given to 44 patients who had received bilateral subtotal thyroidectomy.Three patients who had received unilateral subtotal thyroidectomy developed hypothyroidism at 3,6 and 8 months after the surgery respectively.In other 49 patients receiving unilateral subtotal thyroidectomy the serum FT3,FT4,TSH levels determined at one,3,6 and 12 months after surgery were significantly different from those in the patients of the study group (P＜0.05).Conclusion For the treatment of nodular goiter,ultrasound-guided MWA is quite safe.MWA has very slight effect on thyroid function and is definitely superior to subtotal thyroidectomy.Therefore,MWA is a minimally invasive technique which is worthy of clinical promotion.
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Objective To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation combined with hormone suppression therapy for solitary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.Methods A total of 25 patients with 25 nodules pathologically proven solitary papillary carcinoma 3.7 to 10.0 mm in diameter without clinically apparent lymph node,or distant metastasis were treated with microwave ablation equipement.Microwaves were emitted at 40 W for 200 -400 seconds and prolonged as necessary to attain confluent ablation zones.All patients were treated with both extended ablation therapy and levothyroxine that maintain TSH levels below 0.1 mU/L.Thyroid function test,nodule volume and clinical symptom were evaluated before ablation and during 1 ,3,6,9 and 12 months after treatment according to changes in tumor size,adverse reactions,complications and metastatic tumors.Three out of 25 patients received surgical treatment and the other 22 patients were followed up with routine ultrasound and contrast enhanced ultrasound.Results All 25 tumors were completely ablated by using mutiple plane fixed melting method and no serious or permanent complications occurred.No recurrence at the treatment site or distant metastase were detected,with a mean follow-up of 1 8 months.Histological examination showed no evidence of a tumor in the treated lesions in the 3 surgery patients.Conclusions Ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation appears to be a safe and effective technique for the therapy of solitary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.
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Objective To investigate the effectiveness and safety of ultrasound-guided percutaneous microwave ablation in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules.Methods A total 456 patients (912 nodules) underwent microwave ablation in our department.Microwave ablation was carried out using microwave antenna under local anesthesia.Nodule volume,thyroid function and clinical symptoms were evaluated before treatment and at 1 ,3,6 and 12 months after the treatment to monitor changes in the volume,adverse effect and complications.Results 912 nodules were all studied with contrast-enhanced ultrasound immediately after the ablation,and all results showed “black hole”sign.The mean follow-up period after microwave ablation was (9±6)months (range,3-24 months).At 6-month follow-up,the mean volume reduction ratio of the solid nodules,mixed nodules and the cystic nodules was (61 ± 50 )%,(81 ± 33 )%,(89 ± 46 )%, respectively.The treatment was well tolerated and no major complications were observed except pain and transient voice changes (2.4%).Conclusions Microwave ablation is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of benign thyroid nodules.