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Semin intervent Radiol 2019; 36(05): 381-385
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1696651
Review Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Ethanol Ablation of Neck Metastases from Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma

Ricardo Paz-Fumagalli
1   Division of Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
,
Xi Li
1   Division of Interventional Radiology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
2   Interventional Radiology Department, Changzheng Hospital, Shanghai, China
,
Robert C. Smallridge
3   Division of Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
› Author Affiliations
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Publication History

Publication Date:
02 December 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Differentiated thyroid cancer often metastasizes to cervical lymph nodes, characteristically with slow growth rate and low-level aggressiveness. Cervical lymph node resection is the treatment of choice, but ethanol ablation offers a therapeutic option for patients with few nodes unresponsive to radioiodine therapy and who are poor surgical candidates. The ethanol ablation procedure is minimally invasive, guided sonographically, easily and safely repeated, and easily implemented with minimal technology and cost. Transient nerve injury is infrequent and virtually the only important complication. Current experience indicates that ethanol ablation has the safest therapeutic profile compared to surgery and thermal ablation, and the effectiveness is comparable to thermal ablation and approaches that of surgery. Well-designed clinical trials are lacking.

Keywords

ethanol - thyroid carcinoma - ultrasound - nerve injury - lymph node metastasis
 

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