Long-Term Efficacy of Ultrasound-Guided Laser Ablation for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Results of a 10-Year Retrospective Study.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the 10-year efficacy and safety of laser ablation (LA) for the treatment of solitary papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). Methods: LA was performed on patients with low-risk PTMC (diagnosed using fine-needle aspiration cytology) who refused or were ineligible for surgery between 2008 and 2011. Ultrasonography was performed to evaluate the ablated volumes and potential recurrences on the day after the procedure, as well as at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months, and every 6 months thereafter for 10 years. Computed tomography (CT) with contrast enhancement and positron emission tomography/CT was performed to evaluate local recurrences and distant metastases. Results: A total of 90 PTMCs in 90 patients were treated in a single session of LA, and the procedure was well tolerated by the patients. The mean follow-up duration was 112 months. By 3-10 months after the LA, all the ablation areas had disappeared or presented as scars. The disappearance rate was 100% after 12 months. Thyroid hormone and autoantibody levels did not change significantly after the treatment. Three patients experienced transient voice changes, but each recovered within 1 month. Additional PTMC foci were subsequently detected in previously untreated areas in five patients (5.5%) 17-56 months after the treatment. A metastatic lymph node was detected in one patient (1.1%) within two months of the treatment; however, it was determined to be an undetected cancer metastasis, rather than a recurrence. All the patients with recurrence underwent surgery, and there were no instances of recurrence after >5 years. Conclusions: LA is effective and safe for the treatment of low-risk PTMCs. A thorough examination of multifocality and lymph node metastasis status is required before considering LA treatment.

Factors associated with development of complications after endoscopic foreign body removal.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We analyzed the clinical characteristics of patients who underwent endoscopic foreign body removal and the risk factors of complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The medical records of 415 patients treated from January 2000 to August 2011 for suspected foreign bodies were retrospectively reviewed. Patient characteristics, endoscopic findings, clinical outcomes, and risk factors of complications were analyzed. RESULTS: Foreign bodies were detected endoscopically in 315 patients. Fish bone fragment (36.9%) and coins (15.3%) were the most common type of foreign bodies in adults and children, respectively. Complications associated with endoscopic procedure occurred in 26 patients (8.3%); 20 of the patients were treated conservatively and the other six patients underwent surgical treatment. Perforation (14%) was the most common complication. By univariate and multivariate analysis, the risk factors associated with complication after endoscopic foreign body removal were long duration from ingestion to endoscopy ( P = 0.009) and existence of initial mucosal injury ( P = 0.018). CONCLUSIONS: Most foreign bodies were successfully removed by endoscopy without complication, but long duration from ingestion to endoscopy and mucosal injury were risk factors of complications of endoscopic foreign body removal. Patients with these risk factors could require more careful treatment.