Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid Cancer

Overseen By Emily Saso

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University Health Network, Toronto

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Invasive cancer, Prior treatment, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 1 day

40 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests a treatment called radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for individuals with small thyroid cancers, specifically those 2 cm or smaller. Researchers aim to determine if this treatment is feasible for these low-risk thyroid cancers. Participants will undergo pre-procedure scans, receive the RFA treatment, and attend follow-ups at 4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months. Ideal candidates are adults with a small thyroid nodule (a lump) that has not been treated before. As an unphased trial, this study allows participants to contribute to innovative research that could lead to new treatment options for thyroid cancer.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that radiofrequency ablation is safe for thyroid cancer treatment?

Research has shown that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is generally safe for treating thyroid nodules. Studies report a low overall risk of complications, ranging from 2% to 4.78%. Most issues are minor, such as temporary voice changes, and serious problems are rare.

RFA is less invasive than surgery and carries fewer risks. It effectively shrinks thyroid nodules and often makes them disappear. Long-term evidence suggests that only about 12% of nodules regrow over four years.

These findings indicate that RFA is well-tolerated and could be a safe option for treating small thyroid cancers. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike the standard treatments for thyroid cancer, which often involve surgery or radioactive iodine therapy, Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) offers a minimally invasive alternative. Researchers are excited about RFA because it uses heat generated by radio waves to precisely target and destroy cancerous thyroid nodules, potentially sparing healthy tissue and reducing recovery time. This method could provide a less invasive option with fewer side effects, making it particularly appealing for patients who may not be ideal candidates for surgery.

What evidence suggests that radiofrequency ablation is effective for thyroid cancer?

Studies have shown that radiofrequency ablation (RFA), the treatment tested in this trial, effectively treats thyroid nodules. In one study, patients experienced a 99.9% reduction in nodule size, with 91.9% of tumors disappearing completely. Another study found that RFA reduced nodule size by 77% within a year after treatment. Long-term research indicates that while some nodules may regrow, the treatment remains effective, with a low complication rate of 2.4%, mostly involving minor voice changes. Overall, RFA is a safe and minimally invasive option for reducing thyroid nodules. ^{5 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Jesse D Pasternak, MD, MPH

Principal Investigator

University Health Network (UHN) Toronto

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for individuals with low-risk thyroid cancer, specifically those with tumors that are 2 cm in diameter or smaller. Participants will need to attend follow-up appointments at specific intervals after the procedure.

Inclusion Criteria

Patients able to provide written consent

My thyroid nodule is 2cm or smaller and is highly suspicious.

I can attend all the follow-up visits required by the study.

Exclusion Criteria

Pregnant women

I am under 18 years old.

I am worried I might have thyroid cancer that has spread.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Pre-procedural

Participants undergo pre-procedural scans of the target thyroid nodule

1 week

Treatment

Participants undergo the RFA procedure for thyroid nodule

1 day

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment with follow-up appointments at 4 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months post-procedure

12 months

3 visits (in-person)

Extended Follow-up

Participants have follow-up appointments every 6 months until the end of the study to monitor long-term outcomes

Long-term

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Radiofrequency Ablation

Trial Overview The study is testing the safety and practicality of using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) as a treatment for small, low-risk thyroid cancers. It includes pre-procedure scans and post-procedure follow-ups.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Intervention Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Participants receive RFA intervention for thyroid nodule.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University Health Network, Toronto

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,555

Recruited

526,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Radiofrequency (RF) ablation is an effective minimally invasive treatment for benign thyroid nodules, achieving volume reductions of 33-58% after one month and 51-85% after six months.

RF ablation not only reduces the size of benign nodules but also improves symptoms and shows promising short-term results for controlling locoregional recurrence in patients with thyroid cancers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules: basic principles and clinical application. Shin, JH., Baek, JH., Ha, EJ., et al.[2021]

Ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) significantly reduced the size of metastatic well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma tumors in 10 patients, with the mean diameter decreasing from 13.8 mm to 3.3 mm after treatment.

RFA was effective in controlling tumor growth in patients who could not undergo surgery, with 83% of tumors treated in a single session and a notable decrease in serum thyroglobulin levels in 7 out of 10 patients, indicating a positive response to the treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Locoregional control of metastatic well-differentiated thyroid cancer by ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation. Baek, JH., Kim, YS., Sung, JY., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. thyroid.org thyroid.org/patient-thyroid-information/ct-for-patients/march-2025/vol-18-issue-3-p-11-12/

Long-term data show that RFA remains effective and is low ... Regrowth occurred in 12% of the nodules over 4 years. The total complication rate was 2.4%, related mainly to vocal changes and none were severe. Thyroid ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11361795/

Ten-Year Outcomes of Radiofrequency Ablation for Locally ... Among the 24 patients with 37 recurrent PTCs followed up for over 10 years, the VRR was 99.9% and the complete tumor disappearance rate was 91.9%. This ...

3. cambridgeinterventional.com cambridgeinterventional.com/10-year-clinical-follow-up-for-rfa-of-thyroid-nodules/

10-Year Clinical Follow-up for RFA of Thyroid Nodules RFA can produce safe, substantial, and durable nodule volume reduction over 10 years. Regular follow-up is suggested due to possible nodular ...

4. pubs.rsna.org pubs.rsna.org/doi/abs/10.1148/rg.220021

Radiofrequency Ablation of Benign and Malignant Thyroid ... Radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules is a safe and minimally invasive technique that is efficacious in the treatment of benign thyroid nodules, including ...

5. academic.oup.com academic.oup.com/jcem/article/110/11/3201/7989440

Radiofrequency Ablation for Thyroid Nodules (RATED Study) Long-term follow-up of RFA has shown that the treatment is safe and successful, reducing nodule volume by 77% 1 year after treatment (3). In ...

6. cambridgeinterventional.com cambridgeinterventional.com/rfa-vs-mwa-best-treatment-for-benign-thyroid-nodules/

RFA vs. MWA: Best Treatment for Benign Thyroid Nodules For example, a multi-center prospective study of benign nodule ablation in over 1200 patients found the rate of major complications to be 4.78% ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8271212/

Safety and Efficacy of Radiofrequency Ablation of Thyroid ... Most nodules are benign and asymptomatic; however, ~5% to 15% can grow and cause compressive symptoms or cosmetic issues, with palpable nodules being 5 times ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167814025000015

Meta-analysis Therapeutic outcomes and safety of ... RFA is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment option for both T1a and T1b PTC, with high tumor disappearance and volume reduction rates and low ...

9. gs.amegroups.org gs.amegroups.org/article/view/114856/html

Radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules: a clinical review ... Overall, the safety profile of RFA is impressive and superior to that of thyroid surgery. The overall risk of complication is reportedly 2–3%. The risk of ...