Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40702970›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England2026

Radiofrequency and microwave ablation as promising minimally invasive treatment options for papillary thyroid micro-carcinoma: a systematic review.

I Chatzisouleiman, V Kolovou, N Tolley, G Mochloulis, M Katotomichelakis, K Chaidas

Abstract readSystematic ReviewReview
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

I ChatzisouleimanDemocritus University of Thrace - Medical School, Greece.
V KolovouKing's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK.
N TolleyImperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, UK.
G MochloulisEast and North Herts NHS Trust, UK.
M KatotomichelakisDemocritus University of Thrace - Medical School, Greece.
K ChaidasDemocritus University of Thrace - Medical School, Greece.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionUltrasound-guided thermal ablation has progressively emerged in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules. More recently, thermal ablation has also been proposed as a promising treatment alternative for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). This systematic review evaluates the efficacy and safety of ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) for the treatment of PTMC.

methodsThe PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for relevant studies up to December 2023 following PRISMA guidelines. Volume reduction rate (VRR), complete disappearance rate (CDR), and associated complications following RFA and MWA were analysed.

findingsA total of 33 articles were included. Follow-up time ranged from 11 to 130 months. The efficacy of both MWA and RFA on PTMC was remarkable, with VRR reaching up to 99% at 12-month follow-up in the vast majority of patients, while CDR exceeded 80% in most studies. Following ablation, temporary complications at relatively low rates were reported including regional discomfort, voice change and haematoma, except for only one case with permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

conclusionsUltrasound-guided thermal ablation of PTMC is a promising therapeutic approach for patients who are ineligible for, or refuse, surgery. Current research suggests that RFA and MWA provide favourable, low-cost outcomes, but larger multicentre, randomised studies are required to confirm the feasibility and safety of this new treatment modality.

Indexed as

Ablation TechniquesCarcinoma, PapillaryMicrowavesMinimally Invasive Surgical ProceduresRadiofrequency AblationThyroid NeoplasmsHumansTreatment OutcomeUltrasonography, InterventionalMicrowave ablationPapillary thyroid microcarcinomaRadiofrequency ablationSystematic reviewThermal ablation

Identifiers

PMID40702970
PMCPMC12890045

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.