Objective To investigate the value of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in predicting the metastasis of central cervical lymph nodes (CCLN) in differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and to explore reasonable program for CCLN dissection. Methods This retrospective analysis was performed basing on the clinical data of 407 patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma who were admitted to the Department of General Surgery of Xuanwu Hospital from June 2013 to December 2016, including 237 patients with microcarcinoma. Results ① The results of the lymph nodes detection. All patients had detected 7 766 lymph nodes (1 238 metastatic lymph nodes were detected from 219 patients), and 2 085 sentinel lymph nodes were detected (448 metastatic sentinel lymph nodes were detected from 189 patients). In the patients with microcarcinoma, there were 3 614 lymph nodes were detected (390 metastatic lymph nodes were detected from 97 patients), and 1 202 sentinel lymph nodes were detected (149 metastatic sentinel lymph nodes were detected from 82 patients). ② The value of SLNB to predict CCLN metastasis. The sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, false negative rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of SLNB to predict CCLN metastasis for all patients was 86.30% (189/219), 100% (188/188), 0 (0/189), 13.70% (30/219), 100% (189/189), and 86.24% (188/218) respectively; for patients with microcarcinoma was 84.54% (82/97), 100% (140/140), 0 (0/82), 15.46% (15/97), 100% (82/82), and 90.32% (140/155), respectively. ③ The value of SLNB to predict the presence of additional positive lymph nodes (APLN). The sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, false negative rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of SLNB to predict the APLN for all patients was 81.48% (132/162), 76.73% (188/245), 23.27% (57/245), 18.52% (30/162), 69.84% (132/189) and 86.24% (188/218), respectively; for patients with microcarcinoma was 73.68% (42/57), 77.78% (140/180), 22.22% (40/180), 26.32% (15/57), 51.22% (42/82) and 90.32% (140/155) respectively. ④ The value of positive sentinel lymph node ratio (PSLNR) to predict the presence of the APLN. The sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, false negative rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PSLNR to predict the APLN for all patients was 71.97%, 78.95%, 21.05%, 28.03%, 88.79%, and 54.88% respectively, and the cutoff for PSLNR was 0.345 2. For patients with microcarcinoma, the sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate, false negative rate, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PSLNR to predict the APLN was 83.33%, 67.50%, 32.50%, 16.67%, 72.92%, and 79.41% respectively, and the cutoff for PSLNR was 0.291 7. Conclusion There is an important predicted value of SLNB for CCLN dissection in the patients suffered from differentiated thyroid carcinoma, and the PSLNR is a reliable basis for CCLN dissection.
Objective To summarize the latest research progress on the relationship between cN0 multifocal papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) at home and abroad, so as to provide a reference for surgeons to balance the benefits and risks of surgery and select the best treatment plan. Method The latest studies on the relationship between CLNM and tumor characteristics of cN0 multifocal PTMC (including number of tumor foci, total tumor diameter, primary tumor diameter, total tumor surface area, etc.) were reviewed. Results Current domestic and international guidelines differ on whether cN0 PTMC should be used to prevent central lymph node dissection (pCLND). Proponents believe that pCLND could reduce the recurrence rate of disease and facilitate postoperative risk stratification and management under the premise of technical support. Opponents argue that it was not clear whether pCLND actually improves the prognosis of PTMC patients, but postoperative complications do correlate with pCLND. In order to guide the application of pCLND in the surgical treatment of cN0 PTMC, a large number of studies had reported the risk factors of CLNM in PTMC in recent years, among which multifocal was considered to be a very important risk factor for CLNM. In order to further understand the internal relationship between multifocal PTMC and CLNM, scholars at home and abroad quantified the feature of multifocal PTMC into various parameters, and studied the relationship between them and CLNM in multiple dimensions. It was found that total tumor diameter >1 cm, increased tumor number, total tumor surface area >3.14 cm2, diameter ratio <0.56, tumor volume >90 mm3 and bilateral multifocal PTMC might be the risk factors for increased CLNM risk in patients with cN0 multifocal PTMC. Conclusion These screened parameters are initially considered to be effective tools for predicting the risk of CLNM in multifocal PTMC. Multiple risk parameters coexist, especially in patients with multifocal PTMC characterized by bilateral intralar multifocal PTMC, who are expected to benefit more from pCLND. However, a large number of clinical studies are still needed to provide reliable evidence-based evidence for clinical diagnosis and treatment. In the future, by combining these valuable parameters, a scoring system can be constructed to predict the disease status of multifocal PTMC more accurately and identify patients with necessary pCLND, which will be of great significance for the appropriate treatment of PTMC.
Objective To investigate the clinical effect of non inflatable endoscope assisted lateral cervical lymph node dissection in elderly patients with thyroid cancer. Methods The clinical data of 61 patients with lateral cervical lymphadenectomy assisted by non inflatable endoscope from January 2016 to December 2020 were retrospectively summarized. There were 48 females and 13 males with an average age of (71±6.5) years (range, 65–82 years). The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, cases of accessory nerve injury, cases of phrenic nerve injury, total number of lateral neck dissection lymph nodes, postoperative lymphatic leakage, postoperative drainage volume and hospital stay were counted. Neck ultrasonography and thyroglobulin levels were measured during follow-up to assess recurrence. Results All patients successfully completed the non inflatable endoscopic assisted lateral cervical lymph node dissection, the operative time was 51–117 min, the average was (92±22.1) min, the intraoperative blood loss was about 80–150 mL, the average was (120±17.1) mL, the postoperative drainage was 190–670 mL, the average was (332±167.1) mL, the postoperative hospital stay was 5–13 d, the average was (9±2.3) d, the total number of lymph nodes was 11–23, the average was (16±4.7). There were 11 cases of hypoparathyroidism, 5 cases of temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, 3 cases of accessory nerve injury and no case of phrenic nerve injury. One patient had local redness and swelling after removing the drainage tube. Lymphatic leakage occurred in 3 cases. There was no recurrence during the follow-up period. Conclusion Non inflatable endoscope assisted lateral neck lymph node dissection provides technical support for elderly patients with thyroid cancer, and the effect is exact, and the short and medium-term follow-up results are satisfactory.
Objective To summarize the research progress on diagnostic criteria of lymph node metastasis in medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), and the indication and scope of lateral cervical lymph node dissection (LCLND). Method By searching PubMed and CNKI databases, the related guidelines and literature about the diagnosis and treatment of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in MTC in recent years were obtained and reviewed. Results The metastatic rate of lateral cervical lymph nodes in MTC patients was high. The indication of LCLND was both consensus and controversy. The LCLND of MTC was also controversial, and the focus of controversy mainly focused on the survival rate, recurrence rate, distant metastasis and postoperative complications of patients receiving prophylactic LCLND. Different imaging methods had their own advantages and disadvantages in diagnosing lymph node metastasis of MTC. Nuclear medicine was effective but expensive. Fine needle puncture was also an effective method for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis of MTC. At present, calcitonin level, tumor size and lymph node metastasis were still important indicators for evaluating MTC for prophylactic LCLND, but the application of related indications had not been unified. Many scholars recommended comprehensive consideration of various indicators to evaluate whether MTC carried out preventive LCLND. Conclusions The LCLND of MTC needs to be further explored and standardized on the basis of the existing consensus. The focus of prophylactic LCLND should be to improve the survival rate of patients while reducing complications as much as possible.