Most patients with low-risk papillary thyroid cancer are told there are two paths: surgery, or active surveillance. In this quick update, I'm sharing news of a first-in-human clinical trial that's testing whether there's a third option.
Researchers at Sarasota Memorial Health Care System and MD Anderson Cancer Center are evaluating nsPFA (nanosecond pulsed field ablation) — already FDA-cleared for benign thyroid nodules — to see if it can safely treat papillary thyroid microcarcinoma without surgery or thermal damage. The trial is led by Dr. Ralph Tufano (Sarasota Memorial) and Dr. Victoria Banuchi (MD Anderson), who reached out to me personally to help spread the word.
You may qualify if you have:
✅ Papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
✅ Tumor smaller than 1.5cm
✅ Cancer confined to the thyroid
✅ No lymph node involvement
✅ No spread beyond the thyroid
✅ Currently a candidate for active surveillance
Two enrollment sites: Sarasota, FL and Houston, TX. About 10 of 30 slots remain.
Learn more or see if you qualify:
📞 (941) 917-2225
📧 researchinstitute@smh.com
🔗 clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07218315
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