Korean J Endocr Surg.  2007 Jun;7(2):80-87. 10.16956/kjes.2007.7.2.80.

Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Clinicopathologic Characteristics and Factors of Contralateral Jugular Lymph Node Metastasis after Lymph Node Dissection

• Kim KE
• You ST
• Kim JS
• Moon DJ

• KMID: 2375889
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.16956/kjes.2007.7.2.80

Abstract

PURPOSE
Contralateral jugular lymph node metastasis (CJLNM) of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is rarely found during operative procedures. HoweverPTC is being diagnosed with increasing frequency and lymph node metastasis is now recognized as a factor of prognosis and recurrence. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the clinical and histological characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer and to determine the factors that lead to CJLNM.
METHODS
Two-hundred patients with PTC were treated in our hospital between March 2005 and October 2006. A retrospective analysis of the patient's clinical and histological features and lymph node metastasis was conducted.
RESULTS
The total ratio of CJLNM to PTC was approximately 7.5%, the male to female ratio was 1:6.5, and the mean tumor size was 14.93 mm. In addition, the multiplicity was 53.3% and the bilatrality was 53.3%. Further, there were 4 cases involving benign thyroid disease combined with goiter. In addition, the capsule invasion was 100%. Age under 40 years, bilaterality and capsule invasion were found to be significant clinicopathologic factors of CJLNM induced by PTC.
CONCLUSION
A contralateral jugular lymph node biopsy of PTC may be considered in cases involving patients under 40 years of age with, bilaterality and capsular invasion.

Keyword

Contralateral jugular lymph node metastasis; Papillary thyroid cancer; Age under 40 years; Bilaterality; Capsular invasion

MeSH Terms

Biopsy
Female
Goiter
Humans
Lymph Node Excision*
Lymph Nodes*
Male
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Prognosis
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Surgical Procedures, Operative
Thyroid Diseases
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Neoplasms*