SynthesisEndocrine2026
Radiofrequency and microwave versus surgery for the treatment of Less-than-1-cm papillary thyroid carcinoma: a systematic review and Meta-Analysis.
Synthesis in Endocrine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
purposeTo compare the clinical outcomes of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) with those of total or hemi-thyroidectomy in patients with less-than-1-cm papillary thyroid carcinoma.
methodsA systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted up to June 30, 2025. Eligible studies were identified according to predefined PICO criteria, evaluating differences in local recurrence, lymph node metastasis, complications, treatment variables, and quality of life between RFA or MWA and surgery. PRISMA guidelines were followed, and study quality was assessed using QUADAS-2.
resultsFifteen studies including 5,583 patients (24% male) were analyzed: seven studies (2,455 patients) compared MWA with surgery, and eight studies (3,128 patients) compared RFA with surgery. Mean follow-up was 42.4 ± 14.7 months (57.0 ± 16.5 months for RFA; 26.6 ± 12.6 months for MWA). No significant differences were found between image-guided thermal ablation (I-GTA) and surgery for local recurrence (OR 1.41, 95% CI 0.87–2.29; p = 0.983) or lymph node metastasis (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.56–1.47; p = 0.909). I-GTA was associated with lower costs (–$646.91, 95% CI –$879.60 to –$414.22; p < 0.0001), shorter hospital stay (–5.19 days, 95% CI − 9.73 to − 0.66; p < 0.0001), reduced procedure time (–69.01 min, 95% CI − 78.16 to − 59.85; p < 0.001), and lower complication rates (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.14–0.51; p = 0.0497).
conclusionThis meta-analysis, including the largest patient cohort and longest follow-up to date, confirms that I-GTA and surgery achieve comparable local control and nodal outcomes in less-than-1-cm papillary thyroid carcinoma, while I-GTA offers significant advantages in cost, recovery, and safety. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD420251077888.
Indexed as
Identifiers
41489753What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.