ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of elective central compartment lymph node dissection for cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodThe clinical data of 326 patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma from January 2007 to December 2011 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThe lymph node metastasis incidence was 35.89%(117/326) in 326 patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, which in the patients with age < 45 years, tumor diameter > 1 cm, and thyroidal tumor infiltrated envelope were significantly higher than those in the pati-ents with age≥45 years, tumor diameter≤1 cm, and thyroidal tumor not-infiltrated envelope (age:46.56% versus 28.72%, P=0.001;tumor diameter:44.44% versus 26.45%, P=0.001;infiltrated envelope:50.00% versus 33.09%, P=0.020).Multivariate analysis showed that age < 45 years and tumor diameter > 1 cm were independent risk factors for central compartment lymph node metastasis of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma.There were 6 cases of temporary recu-rrent laryngeal nerve injury, 18 cases of temporary hypoparathyroidism, 4 cases of temporary superior laryngeal nerve injury, and 1 case of acute caryngeal edema.There were no complications such as permanent laryngeal nerve injury and permanent hypoparathyroidism.Three cases had lateral cervical lymph node metastases during a follow-up of 7-67 months (mean 31.2 months). ConclusionsIt is necessary and safe to perform elective central compartment lymph node dissec-tion for cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma.The elective central compartment lymph node dissection should be considered in patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, especially in patients with age of < 45 years and tumor diameter > 1 cm.
ObjectiveTo investigate the value of central lymph node dissection in patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodThe clinical data of 128 patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma who had been performed central lymph node dissection during their hospitalization from December 2010 to July 2012 in Chinese PLA General Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThe central neck lymph node metastasis rate was 35.94%(46/128) in 128 patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, which in the patients with aged less than 45 years, with the tumor diameter larger than 1 cm, and with capsule or extrathyroidal invasion were significantly higher than those in the patients with aged larger than 45 years, with the tumor diameter less than 1 cm, and without capsule or extrathyroidal invasion (P < 0.05). After the operation, there were 22(17.19%) patients with temporary hypoparathyroidism as well as 3(2.34%) patients with temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. However, no permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred. During the 14-32 months follow-up with an average 23.4 months, 2 cases of lateral neck lymph node metastases were observed. ConclusionAs an essential, effective, and safe operation to the patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, central lymph node dissection should be performed by experienced hands.
ObjectiveTo analyze the predictive factors for central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), and explore the treatment method for the patients with PTMC. MethodThe literatures were reviewed according to the results searched from PubMed in recent years. ResultsCentral lymph node metastases were common in the patients with PTMC. It was important for prophylactic central lymph node dissection so it might reduce the local recurrence and comfirm the clinical staging, further more provide the strategies for the postoperative therapy. ConclusionsLymphadenectomy is necessary for patients with lymph node metastasis. Prophylactic central lymph node dissection should be performed for patients without lymph node metastasis but with one risk factor or more.
ObjectiveTo systematically evaluate effectiveness and safety of total thyroidectomy(TT) plus prophylactic central neck dissection(PCND) versus TT for stage cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC). MethodsDatabases including PubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library(Issue1, 2015), WanFang Data, CBM, and CNKI were searched to collect the randomized controlled trails(RCTs) and non-RCTs about TT+PCND versus TT for stage cN0 PTC. The retrieval time was from inception to March 2015. The studies were screened according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the data were extracted and the quality was evaluated independently by 2 reviewers. Then the meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan 5.1 software. ResultsA total of 10 non-RCTs involving 3 661 patients were included. There were 1 774 cases in the TT+PCND group and 1 887 cases in the TT group. The results of meta-analysis showed that: Related to postoperative complications, compared with TT group, the postoperative transient hypocalcemia rate〔OR=0.40, 95% CI(0.33, 0.49), P < 0.000 01〕and permanent hypocalcemia rate were higher〔OR=0.32, 95% CI(0.19, 0.55), P < 0.000 1〕, the recurrence rate was lower〔OR=1.51, 95% CI(1.07, 2.13), P=0.02〕in the TT+PCND group. But there were no differences in the transient laryngeal nerve palsy rate〔OR=0.73, 95% CI(0.49, 1.09), P=0.13〕and permanent laryngeal nerve palsy rate〔OR=0.87, 95% CI(0.50, 1.52), P=0.62〕between the 2 groups. ConclusionsTT+PCND is superior to TT in treating stage cN0 PTC for it's lower recurrence, but it is raising transient hypocalcemia and permanent hypocalcemia rate at the same time. And it is similar as TT in transient laryngeal nerve palsy and permanent laryngeal nerve palsy rate. So TT+PCND is safe and feasible for treating stage cN0 PTC when its indications are strictly controlled. However, for the quantity and quality limitation of the included studies, this conclusion still requires to be further proved by performing large scale and high quality RCTs. It suggests that doctors should choose a best therapy for stage cN0 PTC patients according to an integrative disease assessment.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the risk factors for central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) of cN0 staging. MethodsClinical data of 94 patients with cN0 PTC in Guangdong General Hospital who underwent thyroidectomy with prophylactic central node dissection (pCND) from March to July in 2014 were collected to analyze the risk factors of CLNM by using univariate and multivariate analysis methods. ResultsCLNM was found in 43 patients (45.7%). Multivariate analysis results showed that, the CLNM rate of patients with age < 45 years, tumor located in front of lobe by ultrasound, diameter of tumor > 2 cm, capsular invasion, and total number of central lymph node dissected > 3 were significantly higher (P < 0.05). ConclusionAge < 45 years, tumor located in front of lobe by ultrasound, and diameter of tumor > 2 cm are the risk factors of CLNM in patients with cN0 PTC, pCND should be performed for patients with some of the above risk factors.
ObjectiveTo identify the risk factors of central lymph nodal (CLN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and indicate central neck dissection. MethodsFifty cases were analyzed retrospectively. The BRAFV600E gene mutation was analyzed by sequencing and expression of VEGF-C was analyzed by using immunohistochemically. The clinicopathologic and molecular marker factors relating to CLN metastasis were analyzed. ResultsThe BRAFV600E gene mutation was found in 30 of 50 (60.0%) patients of PTC. Univariate analysis showed that BRAFV600E gene mutation of PTC patients was significantly correlated with high expression of VEGF-C (87.5% vs. 34.6%,P=0.000), not with clinicopathologic factors. High expression of VEGF-C was significantly correlated with CLN metastasis in PTC (87.5% vs. 57.7%, P=0.019). Multivariate analysis showed that invasion of the surrounding tissues (P=0.009,OR=9.082,95% CI:1.748-47.185) and the high expression of VEGF-C (P=0.009,OR=9.082,95% CI:1.748-47.185) were independent risk factors for the presence of CLN metastases. Conclusions①The BRAFV600E gene mutation for PTC patients is significantly correlated with high expression of VEGF-C, not with CLN metastasis in PTC. ②High expression of VEGF-C is significantly correlated with CLN metastasis in PTC. ③Tumor extrathyroidal extension, especially invasion of the surrounding tissues is significantly correlated with CLN metastasis in PTC.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical and pathological features of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, and to assess the value and safety of total thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection in the treatment of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodsClinical data of 103 patients with multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, who underwent total thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection in Affliated Dongfeng Hospital from June 2011 to February 2015 were collected retrospectively. Preoperative ultrasound showed that all patients didn't suffered from cervical lymph node metastasis. ResultsAmong 103 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy plus central lymph node dissection, the unilateral multiple lesions were found in 55 patients (53.40%), and the bilateral multiple lesions were found in 48 patients (46.60%). A total of 31 patients (30.10%) were confirmed to have central lymph node metastasis after operation, central lymph node metastasis only located in the same side of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma in 16 patients (29.10%), but of 15 patients (31.25%) with 2-side of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, 7 patients suffered from 2-side central lymph node metastasis and 8 patients suffered from 1-side central lymph node metastasis. Thirty patients (12.62%) suffered from transient postoperative hypocalcemia after operation, and returned to normal for longest of 2 weeks; 1 patient (0.97%) suffered from parathyroid permanent damage; 18 patients (17.48%) suffered from transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, no one suffered from permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury; 3 patients (2.91%) suffered from postoperative transient drinking cough. All of 103 patients were followed up for 5 months to 4 years, and the postoperative follow-up rate was 100%. During the follow-up period, 3 patients (2.91%) suffered from cervical lymph node metastasis in side region of neck. ConclusionTotal thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection plays an important role in the treatment of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma.
ObjectiveTo explore the value of fluorescence tracer technique in sentinel lymph node (SLN) orientation of cN0 papillary thyroid cancer. MethodsThe total clinical data of 40 cT1-3N0M0 thyroid cancer patients admitted from January 2015 to January 2016 in our hospital were collected, and the SLN with indocyanine green (ICG) as fluorescent trace agent were observed and detected, and the effect of ICG detecting SLN and the guide role of SLNB on the dissection of the central area of neck lymph nodes by intraoperative frozen biopsy pathology and postoperative paraffin pathology were analyzed. ResultsA total of 40 thyroid cancer patients were treated by SLNB and then conducted by the dissection of the central area of neck lymph nodes, and 37 cases detected SLN, so the detection rate was 92.5% (37/40). And a total of 98 SLNs were detected, 1-5 for each case, average of 2.65/case. Intraoperative frozen pathological detected 28 cases of patients with metastases in SLN, and 9 patients without metastasis, including 1 case with postoperative pathology detecting micrometastasis in SLN and other 8 cases without metastasis in the central area of neck lymph nodes. Three cases who were not detected the SLN showed no metastases in final postoperative paraffin pathology. The SLNB of ICG fluorescent tracer was with a sensitivity of 96.6% (28/29), false-negative rate of 3.45% (1/29). ConclusionThe fluorescent tracer technique can guide the dissection of the central of neck lymph node of cN0 thyroid cancer patients accurately with a high detection rate and advantages of high sensitivity in detecting the SLN of thyroid cancer.
ObjectiveTo evaluate whether strategic parathyroid autotransplantation can decrease the incidence of hypoparathyroidism after central lymph node re-dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodsData were retrospectively collected from the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, who had undergone unilateral or bilateral central lymph node re-dissection in the Department of Thyroid Surgery, West China Hospital of Sichuan University between January 2009 and October 2015. The patients were divided into transplantation group and non-transplantation group according to the history of strategic parathyroid autotransplantation in the primary surgery. Data concerning patient demographics (age, sex, comorbidities, the leval of Ca2+ and parathyroid hormone, previous surgical manners and complications before reoperation), surgical manners of reoperation, and postoperative factors (laboratory examination and postoperative complications) were collected. ResultsA total of 74 patients, 35 in the transplantation group and 39 in the non-transplantation group, were included in the study. Significantly higher levels of Ca2+ and parathyroid hormone were observed in the transplantation group than in the non-transplantation group on one day after surgery (P < 0.05). Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury newly occurred in 2 patients in the transplantation group and 5 patients in the non-transplantation group, respectively (5.7% vs. 12.8%, P > 0.05). Transient hypoparathyroidism was documented in 4 patients in the transplantation group and in 12 patients in the non-transplantation group. Permanent hypoparathyroidism was documented in 1 patient in the transplantation group and in 4 patients in the non-transplantation group. The incidence of hypoparathyroidism was significantly lower in the transplantation group compared with the non-transplantation group (5 vs. 16, P < 0.05). The mean number of central lymph node identified pathologically was significantly more in the transplantation group (2.1±1.3 vs. 1.4±0.7, P < 0.05). ConclusionStrategic parathyroid autotransplantation can effectively decrease the incidence of hyperparathyroidism after central lymph node re-dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, which greatly improves the surgical safety and thoroughness.