Hybrid Endoscopic Hemithyroidectomy and Targeted Ablation for Bilateral Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

July 1, 2025 updated by: Bo Wang,MD, Fujian Medical University
This study evaluates a thyroid-function-preserving alternative to routine total thyroidectomy for bilateral papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Eligible adults undergo remote-access gas-less axillo-breast endoscopic hemithyroidectomy with level VI dissection on the dominant side, followed by ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of a ≤7 mm contralateral focus during the same anesthesia. Outcomes include structural-recurrence-free survival, endocrine-function preservation, safety, and quality of life over 24 months.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Bilateral PTC traditionally prompts total thyroidectomy, exposing patients to lifelong thyroxine replacement and a 1 - 3 % risk of permanent hypocalcemia. Building on a pilot cohort of 11 patients treated from June 2018 to September 2024 that showed no structural recurrence, no permanent RLN palsy, and preserved endocrine function after a median 17-month follow-updraft_Proof_hi, we launch a multicenter registry to confirm oncologic adequacy and functional benefits. Intervention: endoscopic hemithyroidectomy (dominant lobe) via gas-less axillo-breast approach plus central-neck dissection; then contralateral lesion RFA with a 17-gauge 0.7-cm active-tip electrode at 40 W (moving-shot). Follow-up at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months includes ultrasound, serum Tg, calcium, PTH, and QoL instruments. Long-term surveillance continues annually to five years.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • China
    • Fujian
      • Fuzhou, Fujian, China, 350001
        • Recruiting
        • Fujian Medical University Union Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Bo Wang MD, Principal Investigator

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 18-65 years.
  • Dominant-side PTC ≤1.5 cm suitable for endoscopic resection.
  • Contralateral nodule ≤7 mm located ≥2 mm from posterior capsule.
  • No radiologic lymph-node metastasis on contralateral side.
  • Written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Extrathyroidal extension, gross nodal or distant metastasis.
  • Prior neck surgery, prior RFA/ethanol injection, or neck irradiation.
  • Pregnancy or lactation.
  • Serious comorbidities precluding anesthesia or follow-up.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Hybrid Endoscopic Hemithyroidectomy + Same-Session Contralateral RFA
Remote-access gas-less axillo-breast endoscopic hemithyroidectomy with level VI central-neck dissection on the dominant lobe, immediately followed-under the same anesthesia-by ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (17-G, 0.7 cm active tip, 40 W, moving-shot technique) of a ≤ 7 mm contralateral papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.
Procedure: Endoscopic Hemithyroidectomy with Central-Neck Dissection
Gas-less axillo-breast approach (trans-axillary + peri-areolar), carbon-dioxide-free working space, removing dominant thyroid lobe plus level VI lymph nodes; intra-operative neuromonitoring used throughout.
Procedure: Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Contralateral Nodule
17-gauge internally-cooled electrode, 0.7 cm active tip, power 40 W; moving-shot technique under real-time ultrasound until hyperechoic halo fully covers ≤ 7 mm papillary microcarcinoma ≥ 2 mm from posterior capsule; same anesthesia session as surgery.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Structural Recurrence-Free Survival
Time Frame: 24 months
Proportion of participants without local, regional, or distant structural recurrence confirmed by imaging ± cytopathology.
24 months
Endocrine-Function Preservation
Time Frame: 24 months
Participants alive and free from lifelong levothyroxine therapy and permanent hypocalcemia (serum Ca ≥2.1 mmol/L without supplementation).
24 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Permanent RLN Palsy Incidence
Time Frame: 12 months
Laryngoscopy-confirmed vocal-fold mobility disorder persisting ≥6 months.
12 months
Permanent Hypocalcemia Incidence
Time Frame: 12 months
Need for calcium/vit-D >6 months after surgery.
12 months
Nodule Volume Reduction Rate
Time Frame: 12 months
Percentage reduction of ablated nodule volume on ultrasound.
12 months
Procedure-Related Adverse Events
Time Frame: 30 days
Any CTCAE v5.0 Grade ≥3 event within 30 days.
30 days

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Fujian Medical University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Bo Wang MD, Principal Investigator, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 1, 2018

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
June 30, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
June 13, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 13, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
June 24, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
July 3, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 1, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • Hybrid

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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