Current role of interventional radiology in the management of visceral and bone metastases from thyroid cancer

To err is human; acute appendicitis a mistaken clinical identity for metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma, a case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Thyroid cancer accounts for majority of endocrine cancers with follicular thyroid cancer the second most common. It tends to spread via hematogenous route with distant metastasis thus besides presenting as a neck mass it may also present with symptoms tallying to regions of metastasis which may misguide the diagnosis. We report a case of a 50-year-old man who presented with features of appendicitis only to discover metastatic right iliac bone follicular thyroid cancer. We describe our experience on diagnostic formulation, radiological work up, surgery, radioactive iodine therapy and follow up.

CASE PRESENTATION

50-year-old man presenting with acute abdomen and fevers with suspicion for appendicitis, worked up and found to have metastatic follicular carcinoma. Underwent total thyroidectomy and radioactive iodine therapy to achieve disease stability without progression with a 5 year follow up completed.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

The tendency to jump to medical imaging to establish a diagnosis in a lab oriented rather than clinical oriented approach. The role of radiology to establish the underlying disease and identify the primary lesion. Successfully halting disease progression for metastatic follicular thyroid carcinoma with surgery and radioactive iodine therapy.

CONCLUSION

Right iliac fossa tenderness does not always equate to acute appendicitis hence the use of diagnostic imaging to diagnose the metastatic lesion thus simplifying the puzzle to identify the primary. We hope through sharing our experience, we encourage the use of interventional radiology in a region that tends to opt for open approach when percutaneous approaches have shown to be successful.

Current Management of Bone Metastases from Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Simple Summary

Patients with bone metastases (BMs) from differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) can live longer than those with BMs from other cancers. BMs from DTC create destructive lesions and easily cause intractable pain and neurological symptoms, including paralysis. These symptoms related to BMs affect mortality directly and indirectly by hampering the application of systemic therapies. Therefore, long-term local control of BMs in patients with DTC is desired, especially in patients with single or a small number of metastases. Local treatments for BMs have recently become advanced and sophisticated in surgery, radiotherapy, and percutaneous procedures. These therapies, either alone or in combination with other treatments, can effectively improve, or prevent the deterioration of, the performance status and quality of life of patients with DTC-BM. Among local therapies, complete surgical resection and stereotactic radiosurgery are the mainstay for achieving long-term control of DTC-BM.

Abstract

After the lung, the skeleton is the second most common site of distant metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). Patients with osteolytic bone metastases (BMs) from thyroid carcinoma often have significantly reduced performance status and quality of life. Recent advancements in cancer therapy have improved overall survival in multiple cancer subtypes, including thyroid cancer. Therefore, long-term local control of thyroid BMs is desired, especially in patients with a single metastasis or oligometastases. Here, we reviewed the current management options for DTC-BMs and especially focused on local treatments for long-term local tumor control from an orthopedic tumor surgeon’s point of view. Metastasectomy and stereotactic radiosurgery can be performed either alone or in combination with radioiodine therapy and kinase inhibitors to cure skeletal lesions in selected patients. Percutaneous procedures have been developed in recent years, and they can also have a curative role in small BMs. Recent advancements in local therapies have the potential to provide not only long-term local tumor control but also a better prognosis.

Bone metastases from differentiated thyroid carcinoma: current knowledge and open issues

Bone represents the second most common site of distant metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The clinical course of DTC patients with bone metastases (BM) is quite heterogeneous, but generally associated with low survival rates. Skeletal-related events might be a serious complication of BM, resulting in high morbidity and impaired quality of life. To achieve disease control and symptoms relief, multimodal treatment is generally required: radioiodine therapy, local procedures-including surgery, radiotherapy and percutaneous techniques-and systemic therapies, such as kinase inhibitors and antiresorptive drugs. The management of DTC with BM is challenging: a careful evaluation and a personalized approach are essential to improve patients' outcomes. To date, prospective studies focusing on the main clinical aspects of DTC with BM are scarce; available analyses mainly include cohorts assembled over multiple decades, small samples sizes and data about BM not always separated from those regarding other distant metastases. The aim of this review is to summarize the most recent evidences and the unsolved questions regarding BM in DTC, analyzing several key issues: pathophysiology, prognostic factors, role of anatomic and functional imaging, and clinical management.

Personalized treatment for differentiated thyroid cancer: current data and new perspectives

More conservative and personalized treatment options have been developed in recent years to face the rising diagnosis of low-risk differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). The present review describes the change towards a more risk-adapted management either in the treatment or in the follow-up of DTC. Particular attention is given to the innovations introduced by the latest guidelines for low-risk tumors, starting from the most appropriate extension of surgery up to the postoperative management. The emerging role of active surveillance for low-risk microcarcinoma is discussed, as well as the development of percutaneous strategies in the setting of malignant thyroid disease. The recent use of approved new systemic target therapies for advanced radioiodine refractory thyroid cancer is reported, together with the description of new compounds in trial. Finally, we provide some considerations to improve the risk evaluation in a presurgical setting, especially related to the rising role of genetics, to enable better risk-based cancer management and personalized treatment choices.

CIRSE Standards of Practice on Thermal Ablation of Liver Tumours

This CIRSE Standards of Practice document reviews current literature and provides best practices for image guided thermal ablation of liver tumours, including radiofrequency, microwave and cryoablation techniques.

Image-Guided Thermal Ablation as an Alternative to Surgery for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Preliminary Results of an Italian Experience

PURPOSE

To report the results of our preliminary experience in treating patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) with image-guided thermal ablation, in particular estimating the feasibility, safety and short-term efficacy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2018 patients with cytologically proven PTMC < 10 mm were discussed in a multidisciplinary team and evaluated for feasibility of image-guided thermal ablation. In case of technical feasibility, the three possible alternatives (i.e., image-guided thermal ablation, surgery, and active surveillance) were discussed with patients. Patients who agreed to be treated with image guided thermal ablation underwent radiofrequency (RFA) or laser ablation under local anesthesia and conscious sedation. Treatment feasibility, technical success, technique efficacy, change in thyroid function tests, side effects, minor and major complications, patients satisfaction and pain/discomfort perception during and after treatment, and disease recurrence during follow-up were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 13 patients were evaluated, and 11/13 (84.6%) patients (9 female, 2 male, mean age 49.3 ± 8.7 years) resulted suitable for image-guided thermal ablation. All 11 patients agreed to be treated with image-guided thermal ablation. In addition, 3/11 (27.3%) were treated with laser ablation and 8/11 (72.7%) with RFA. All procedures were completed as preoperatively planned (technical success 100%). Technique efficacy was achieved in all 11/11 (100%) cases. Ablated volume significantly reduced from 0.87 ± 0.67 ml at first follow-up to 0.17 ± 0.36 at last follow-up (p = 0.003). No change in thyroid function tests occurred. No minor or major complications occurred. All patients graded 10 the satisfaction for the treatment, and mean pain after the procedure was reported as 1.4 ± 1.7, and mean pain after the procedure as 1.2 ± 1.1 At a median follow-up of 10.2 months (range 1.5-12 months), no local recurrence or distant metastases were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Image guided thermal ablations appear to be feasible and safe in the treatment of PTMC. These techniques hold the potential to offer patients a minimally invasive curative alternative to surgical resection or active surveillance. These techniques appear to be largely preferred by patients.

Contemporary Debates in Adult Papillary Thyroid Cancer Management

An ever-increasing population of patients with papillary thyroid cancer is engaging with health care systems around the world. Numerous questions about optimal management have arisen that challenge conventional paradigms. This is particularly the case for patients with low-risk disease, who comprise most new patients. At the same time, new therapies for patients with advanced disease are also being introduced, which may have the potential to prolong life. This review discusses selected controversial issues in adult papillary thyroid cancer management at both ends of the disease spectrum. These topics include: (i) the role of active surveillance for small papillary cancers; (ii) the extent of surgery in low-risk disease (lobectomy vs total thyroidectomy); (iii) the role of postoperative remnant ablation with radioiodine; (iv) optimal follow-up strategies in patients, especially those who have only undergone lobectomy; and (v) new therapies for advanced disease. Although our current management is hampered by the lack of large randomized controlled trials, we are fortunate that data from ongoing trials will be available within the next few years. This information should provide additional evidence that will decrease morbidity in low-risk patients and improve outcomes in those with distant metastatic disease.

2019 European Thyroid Association Guidelines for the Treatment and Follow-Up of Advanced Radioiodine-Refractory Thyroid Cancer

The vast majority of thyroid cancers of follicular origin (TC) have a very favourable outcome, but 5-10% of cases will develop metastatic disease. Around 60-70% of this subset, hence less than 5% of all patients with TC, will become radioiodine refractory (RAI-R), with a significant negative impact on prognosis and a mean life expectancy of 3-5 years. Since no European expert consensus or guidance for this challenging condition is currently available, a task force of TC experts was nominated by the European Thyroid Association (ETA) to prepare this document based on the principles of clinical evidence. The task force started to work in September 2018 and after several revision rounds, prepared a list of recommendations to support the treatment and follow-up of patients with advanced TC. Criteria for advanced RAI-R TC were proposed, and the most appropriate diagnostic tools and the local, systemic and palliative treatments are described. Systemic therapy with multikinase inhibitors is fully discussed, including recommendations on how to start it and at which dosage, on the duration of treatment, and on the management of side effects. The appropriate relationship between the specialist and the patient/family as well as ethical issues are covered. Based on the available studies and on personal experience, the experts provided 39 recommendations aimed to improve the management of advanced RAI-R TCs. Above all of them is the indication to treat and follow these patients in a specialized setting which allows the interaction between several specialists in a multidisciplinary team.

Thermal-ablation of vertebral metastases prevents adverse events in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma

PURPOSE

To evaluate a strategy that used thermal-ablation of vertebral metastases (VM) to prevent vertebral related events (VRE) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC).

METHODS

This single center study retrospectively reviewed records and post-operative imaging of all DTC patients treated with thermal-ablation for asymptomatic VMs. Rate of local tumor control at first post-operative imaging, 12 and 24 months after thermal-ablation and rate of VREs at 12 and 24 months among the treated VMs were reported. New VMs that occurred during the follow-up and were not considered for additional thermal-ablation were moniroted and VREs were reported.

RESULTS

Thermal-ablation was used to achieve local control of 41 VMs in 28 patients. Median post-treatment follow-up was 22 months [range: 12-80] and the mean delay for first post-operative imaging was 2 months [range: 0.6-7.5]. Local control at first post-operative imaging, 12 and 24 months was achieved in 87.8%, 82.9% and 75.6%, respectively. Among the treated VMs the rates of VRE was 7.3% at 2 years, significantly lower if local control was achieved at first post-operative imaging than if it was not (0% vs 30%, p = 0.011, OR = 0.184 [95%CI = 0.094-0.360]). After thermal-ablation procedures, 19 news VMs occurred in 11 patients (39.2%) with a median interval of 8 months [range 1-26] and remained untreated. Among these untreated VMs, the rate of VREs at 2 years was significantly higher compared to the treated VMs: (36.8% vs. 7.3%, p = 0.008, OR = 0.135, [95%CI = 0.030-0.607]).

CONCLUSION

local tumor control of VMs using thermal-ablation decreases the risk of VREs in DTC patients.

The medical treatment of radioiodine-refractory differentiated thyroid cancers in 2019. A TUTHYREF® network review

Patients with radioiodine-refractory (RAIR) differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) represent a challenging subgroup of DTC because they are at higher risk of cancer-related death. Multidisciplinary discussions can assess the role and the nature of local treatments, but also determine the optimal timing for first-line antiangiogenic therapy as some of these patients can be followed for several months or years without any treatment. In this review, we will examine the definition of RAIR-DTC, the different treatment options and finally some of the most recent cancer research breakthroughs for RAIR-DTC.

Update on Preoperative Embolization of Bone Metastases

Management of patients with bone metastasis is complex and should include different specialties. Goals of therapy should be identified for each individual patient prior to the start of treatment. Preoperative embolization has generally been considered a safe and effective means of reducing intraoperative blood loss with recent studies and advances in technique reported. Update on indications, contraindications, technique, and efficacy, as well as prognostic factors and complications of preoperative embolization of bone metastases will be reviewed. New trends such as transradial arterial access and usage of liquid embolic agents will be discussed. Large tumor size, increased preprocedural tumor vascularity, longer embolization-to-surgery interval, and radical surgical procedures are associated with greater intraoperative blood loss and prolonged operative time. An accurate, noninvasive method to evaluate tumor vascularity prior to angiography is needed to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from preoperative embolization. Particular attention will be paid to skeletal metastases and spinal metastases as each has its own set of complexity.

Management of one patient with oligoprogressive thyroid cancer during treatment with lenvatinib

Recent thyroid cancer guidelines found it reasonable to use local therapies during treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in selected patients with oligoprogressive disease, namely, in the presence of a single progressing lesion in an otherwise TKI-responsive metastatic cancer. However, there is a lack of experience in the management of oligoprogressive thyroid cancers. This report illustrates the case of one patient with oligoprogressive thyroid cancer during therapy with lenvatinib. We found that the application of local ablative therapy in oligoprogressive disease prolonged the progression-free survival and thus extended the time to therapy interruption. However, the optimal care for TKI-treated oligoprogressive cancers remains unclear and needs to be investigated in prospective trials.

Percutaneous consolidation of bone metastases: strategies and techniques

Patients with cancer can present with bone metastases (BM), which are frequently complicated by different types of fractures necessitating prompt management to avoid serious impairment in terms of quality of life and survival.

Percutaneous image-guided bone consolidation has rapidly emerged as an alternative to surgical fixation and is mainly reserved for patients who are deemed unfit for surgical management. Two percutaneous techniques, osteoplasty and osteosynthesis, are available and are selected based on the biomechanics of the target bones as well as the fracture types.

The aim of this narrative review is to present the different types of BM-related fractures and the interventional strategies and techniques underpinning their minimally invasive percutaneous fixation.

Differentiated Thyroid Cancer, From Active Surveillance to Advanced Therapy: Toward a Personalized Medicine

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most frequent endocrine malignancy and represents the most rapidly increasing cancer diagnosis worldwide. In the last 20 years, this increase has been mostly due to a higher detection of small papillary thyroid cancers, with doubtful effects on patients' outcome. In fact, despite this growth, cancer-related death remained stable over the years. The growing detection of microcarcinomas associated to the indolent behavior of these cancers led to the development of strategies of active surveillance in selected centers of different countries. Moreover, toward a more personalized approach in the management of DTC patients, surgical treatments became more conservative, favoring less extensive options in patients at low risk of recurrence. The rise in lobectomy in low-risk cases and the need to avoid further therapies, with controversial impact on recurrences and cancer-related death in selected intermediate risk cases, led to reconsider the use of radioiodine treatment, too. Since clinicians aim to treat different patients with different modalities, the cornerstone of DTC follow-up (i.e., thyroglobulin, thyroglobulin autoantibodies, and neck ultrasound) should be interpreted consistently with this change of paradigm. The introduction of novel molecular target therapies (i.e., tyrosine kinase inhibitors), as well as a better understanding of the mechanisms of immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies, is radically changing the management of patients with advanced DTC, in whom no treatment option was available. The aim of this review is to analyze the most recent developments of the management of DTC, focusing on several key issues: active surveillance strategies, initial treatment, dynamic risk re-stratification, and therapeutic options in advanced DTC.