Level Ⅱ lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma / 中华内分泌外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the correlation between level Ⅱ cervical lymph node metastasis (CLNM) and thyroid disease background,tumor size,location,and local lymph node metastasis in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Methods A thyroid cancer database was established using Access database software.62 patients with PTC undergoing neck dissection in the 1st Department of Head and Neck surgery of Sichuan Cancer Hospital from Aug.2013 to Mar.2014 were retrospectively reviewed in terms of their sex,age,thyroid disease background,number of nodules,tumor size,location,and CLNM.Results 30 out of 62 patients had level Ⅱ cervical lymph node metastasis (Ⅱa27 cases,Ⅱb6 cases).13 out of 23 patients without history of other thyroid disease had level Ⅱ CLNM,9 out of 17 patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis had level Ⅱ CLNM,3 out of 18 patients concomitant with nodular goiter had level Ⅱ CLNM and 2 patients concomitant with hyperthyroidism and having received radioactive iodine 131 treatments had level Ⅱ CLNM.Among patients with level Ⅱ CLNM,2 patients had tumors ＜10 mm,17 patients had tumors between 10 mm and 40 mm,and 4 patients had tumors ＞40 mm.Most of the tumors (11/17) with level Ⅱ CLNM were located in the upper polar of the thyroid,while the rest were located in the middle (12/23) and lower (3/12) region of thyroid.Conclusions Level Ⅱ CLNM is a common feature of thyroid carcinoma.It has been well accepted that level Ⅱ cervical lymph node should be dissected when extracapsular invasion or CLNM to level Ⅲ or Ⅳ occurs.In addition to traditional risk stratification,level Ⅰ CLNM is correlated with tumor size,location,and thyroid disease background.Therefore,close attention should be paid to level Ⅱ cervical lymph node when tumors are located in the upper polar of thyroid and individualized treatment should be chosen for each patient.