Int J Thyroidol.  2018 Nov;11(2):117-122. 10.11106/ijt.2018.11.2.117.

Surgery for Advanced Nodal Metastasis in Thyroid Cancer

• Park MW
• Rho YS

• KMID: 2448981
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11106/ijt.2018.11.2.117

Abstract

Metastases to regional cervical lymph nodes occur frequently in patients with thyroid cancer. The appropriate management of regional lymph node is important to achieve good disease control and to classify risk stratification for adjuvant radioactive iodine. However, there are some occasions that neck dissection is difficult and embarrassing in thyroid cancer. Especially, extensive or unusual nodal metastases bring challenges and makes neck dissection more difficult. Carotid artery management is one of the most difficult procedure in neck dissection. The management of patients who have persistent or recurrent cervical metastasis involving the carotid artery has been controversial and treatment dilemma to the surgeon. Metastasis of well differentiated thyroid cancer to the retropharyngeal lymph nodes is rare but occasionally encountered. The complete surgical excision is usually recommended for retropharyngeal lymph node metastasis of well differentiated thyroid cancer. An extensive mediastinal dissection in advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma is occasionally required. This paper will review recent reports of management of advanced nodal metastasis of thyroid cancer and share the author's personal experience.

Keyword

Thyroid cancer; Carotid artery; Retropharyngeal lymph node; Mediastinal lymph node; Surgery

MeSH Terms

Carotid Arteries
Humans
Iodine
Lymph Nodes
Neck Dissection
Neoplasm Metastasis*
Thyroid Gland*
Thyroid Neoplasms*
Iodine