Eleftherios Spartalis1, Sotirios P Karagiannis2, Nikolaos Plakopitis1, Maria Anna Theodori1, Dimitrios I Athanasiadis3, Dimitrios Schizas4, Michael Spartalis5, Theodore Troupis6. 1. 2nd Department of Propaedeutic Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 2. 4th Department of Surgery, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 3. Department of Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA. 4. 1st Department of Surgery, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 5. Laboratory of Experimental Surgery and Surgical Research "N.S Christeas", Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece. 6. Department of Anatomy, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
Abstract
Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common type of thyroid cancer; despite its generally indolent course, patients often develop local post-operative recurrences. Re-operation, however, holds a high complication rate, while at the same time, not all patients benefit from radioiodine ablation. This systematic review investigates the application of laser ablation therapy (LAT) for cervical lymph node metastases as an additional treatment modality. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Statement. Medline electronic database and Cochrane Library were searched for eligible articles. Results: Five studies were included in the systematic review. All studies included patients with metastatic lymph nodes from papillary thyroid carcinoma, that were unsuitable for further radioiodine or surgical treatment. Patients were treated with two different LAT devices. Regardless of the utilized assessment modalities, all researchers reported significant outcomes on local disease control. No permanent complications were observed.Conclusions: LAT is relatively safe and effective for the treatment of cervical metastatic lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma is the most common type of thyroid cancer; despite its generally indolent course, patients often develop local post-operative recurrences. Re-operation, however, holds a high complication rate, while at the same time, not all patients benefit from radioiodine ablation. This systematic review investigates the application of laser ablation therapy (LAT) for cervical lymph node metastases as an additional treatment modality. Methods: This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA Statement. Medline electronic database and Cochrane Library were searched for eligible articles. Results: Five studies were included in the systematic review. All studies included patients with metastatic lymph nodes from papillary thyroid carcinoma, that were unsuitable for further radioiodine or surgical treatment. Patients were treated with two different LAT devices. Regardless of the utilized assessment modalities, all researchers reported significant outcomes on local disease control. No permanent complications were observed.Conclusions: LAT is relatively safe and effective for the treatment of cervical metastatic lymph nodes in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.