scholarly journals How Many Lymph Nodes Are Enough? Assessing the Adequacy of Lymph Node Yield for Papillary Thyroid Cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (28) ◽  
pp. 3434-3439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy J. Robinson ◽  
Samantha Thomas ◽  
Michaela A. Dinan ◽  
Sanziana Roman ◽  
Julie Ann Sosa ◽  
...  

Purpose Patients who undergo surgery for papillary thyroid cancer with only a limited lymph node examination are thought to be at risk for potentially harboring occult disease. However, this risk has not been objectively quantified and may have implications for subsequent management and surveillance. Methods Data from the National Cancer Database (1998 to 2012) were used to characterize the distribution of nodal positivity of adult patients diagnosed with localized ≥ 1-cm papillary thyroid cancer who underwent thyroidectomy with one or more lymph nodes (LNs) examined. A β-binomial distribution was used to estimate the probability of occult nodal disease as a function of total number of LNs examined and pathologic tumor stage. Results A total of 78,724 patients met study criteria; 38,653 patients had node-positive disease. The probability of falsely identifying a patient as node negative was estimated to be 53% for patients with a single node examined and decreased to less than 10% when more than six LNs were examined. To rule out occult nodal disease with 90% confidence, six, nine, and 18 nodes would need to be examined for patients with T1b, T2, and T3 disease, respectively. Sensitivity analyses limited to patients likely undergoing prophylactic central neck dissection resulted in three, four, and eight nodes needed to provide comparable adequacy of LN evaluation. Conclusion To our knowledge, our study provides the first empirically based estimates of occult nodal disease risk in patients after surgery for papillary thyroid cancer as a function of primary tumor stage and number of LNs examined. Our estimates provide an objective guideline for evaluating adequacy of LN yield for surgeons and pathologists in the treatment of papillary thyroid cancer, and especially intermediate-risk disease, for which use of adjuvant radioactive iodine and surveillance intensity are not currently standardized.

Author(s):  
Ava Yap ◽  
Amy Shui ◽  
Jessica Gosnell ◽  
Chiung-Yu Huang ◽  
Julie Ann Sosa ◽  
...  

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet Uludag ◽  
Nurcihan Aygun ◽  
Alper Ozel ◽  
Feyza Yener Ozturk ◽  
Rabia Karasu ◽  
...  

Objective. Marine-Lenhart Syndrome (MLS) is defined as concomitant occurrence of autonomously functioning thyroid nodule (AFTN) with Graves’ disease (GD). Malignancy in a functional nodule is rare. We aimed to present an extremely rare case of papillary thyroid cancer in a MLS nodule with lateral lymph node metastases.Case. A 43-year-old male presented with hyperthyroidism and Graves’ ophthalmopathy. On Tc99m pertechnetate scintigraphy, a hyperactive nodule in the left upper thyroid pole was detected and the remaining tissue showed a mildly increased uptake. The ultrasonography demonstrated 15.5 × 13.5 × 12 mm sized hypoechoic nodule in the left upper pole of the thyroid and round lymph nodes on the left side of the neck. Fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the nodule and lymph node revealed cytological findings consistent with papillary cancer. Total thyroidectomy with central and left modified radical neck dissection was performed. On pathologic examination, two foci of micropapillary cancer were detected. The skip metastases were present in three lymph nodes on the neck.Conclusion. AFTN can be seen rarely in association with GD. It is not possible to exclude malignancy due to the clinical and imaging findings. In the presence of suspicious clinical and sonographic features, FNAB should be performed.


2009 ◽  
Vol 33 (10) ◽  
pp. 2094-2098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Byung-Joo Lee ◽  
Jin-Choon Lee ◽  
Soo-Geun Wang ◽  
Yong-Ki Kim ◽  
In-Ju Kim ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 76-81
Author(s):  
V. S. Parshin ◽  
A. A. Veselova ◽  
V. S. Medvedev ◽  
S. A. Ivanov ◽  
A. D. Kaprin

Introduction. Cervical lymph node metastases can occur not only in patients when they are first diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer but also in patients who have undergone thyroidectomy. Objective. The aim of this study was to assess the potential utility of neck ultrasound in diagnosing cervical lymph node metastases (levels I–VII) in patients who underwent surgical treatment for papillary thyroid cancer.Material and Methods. B-mode sonography of all nodal levels in the neck was performed using a linear array transducer in the frequency range of 7.5–13 MHz, power mapping and panoramic scan to locate regional lymph node metastases. All lymph nodes removed during reoperations were submitted for histological evaluation. Sonographic examinations of cervical lymph nodes of the levels I–VII were performed in 2875 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy in different regions of the Russian Federation. The patients were admitted to our clinic to receive radioactive iodine therapy. All neck levels were assessed by ultrasound.Results. Sonography revealed cervical lymph node metastases in 267 (9.2 %) of 2875 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who had undergone thyroidectomy. Nodal metastasis in level VI only occurred in 70 (2.4 %) patients, in levels II–III–IV only in 150 (5.21 %), in level VB only in 32 (1.11 %), and at the same time in level VI and in levels II–III–IV in 15 (0.52 %) patients. There were no metastases in levels I, VA, VII of the neck. Solitary metastases to all levels were found in 7.5 %, multiple metastases in 1.2 %, and conglomerates in 0.6 % of cases. Solitary metastases in level VI were noted in 56 (1.9 %), in levels II–III–IV in 125 (4.3 %), and in level VB in 29 (1.0 %) patients. Multiple metastases in level VI were detected in 11 (0.38 %), in levels II–III–IV in 21 (0.73 %), and in level VB in 3 (0.1 %) patients. Median metastasis size was 2.1 ± 1.6 cm.Conclusion. Post-thyroidectomy patients were found to have cervical lymph node metastases. Ultrasound scanning of the neck should be considered a key examination if there are cicatricial changes as it enables to identify metastasis and to determine its location. The maximal number of metastases was noted in levels II–III–IV. Cervical lymph node metastases occurred less frequently in the central level and level VB. The predominant metastatic pattern was solitary. There was an essential difference in metastatic spread to cervical lymph nodes between postthyroidectomy patients and patients who were first diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer. 


Author(s):  
Rajjyoti Das ◽  
Jagannath D. Sharma ◽  
Amal Ch Kataki ◽  
Chandi R. Kalita ◽  
Nizara Baishya

Background: Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) have a high propensity for regional metastasis which ranges from 30- 80%. The objective of the study is to assess the pattern of lymph node metastasis and to plan the extent of neck dissection accordingly. Though central neck dissection (CND) is routinely done in PTC but the indication of extent of  neck dissection is still controversial.Methods: The medical records of   86 patients with PTC  who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) and neck dissection at Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute(BBCI) from January 2010 to  December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.Results: Out of 86 patients 22 were males and 64 were females. The median age of presentation was 40.0 years. 43 out of 86 patients (50%) had cervical lymph node metastasis. Ipsilateral nodal metastasis was found in 37 patients (43.0%) and contralateral metastasis was found in only 6 patients (7.0%).Tumors with size more than 3cm had ipsilateral nodal metastasis in 21(56.7%) patients which is statistically significant (p 0.03).A strong association was found between level VI and the ipsilateral group of lymph nodes involving level II,III,IV and V.Conclusions: Majority of patients present with multiple level nodal metastasis, with the central compartment commonly involved. In view of the high incidence of metastatic lymph nodes in levels II, III, IV and level VI ,our study  supports the recommendation  for posterolateral  and anterior  neck dissection in patients with clinically positive neck  nodes and tumor with aggressive criteria.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 17-23
Author(s):  
V. S. Parshin ◽  
A. A. Veselova ◽  
V. S. Medvedev ◽  
S. A. Ivanov ◽  
A. D. Kaprin

The study objective is to explore the potentialities of ultrasound in the detection of metastasis from papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) to cervical lymph nodes in levels II–IV.Materials and methods. In 97 patients with first diagnosed PTC, surgical removal of the cervical lymph node-bearing fat at levels II–IV was performed. All patients underwent preoperative neck ultrasound. The results were verified by histology.Results. Cervical levels II–IV lymph node metastases were revealed in 82 (84,5 %) cases by sonography and in 86 (88,6 %) cases by histology. Ultrasound showed a sensitivity of 93 %, specificity of 81 %, accuracy of 91 %, positive predictive value of 97 % and negative predictive value of 60 %. Of 1620 removed lymph nodes, 443 (27,3 %) showed metastases confirmed by histology. Sonography revealed 422 (26,0 %) metastatic lymph nodes. Metastasis from intra-thyroid tumors was noted in 94,1 % and from extra-thyroid tumors in 87,5 % of patients. Metastasis from solitary tumors occurred in 86,5 % and from multicentric tumors in 92,1 % of cases. Multiple metastases made up 89,5 % and solitary metastases – 10,5 %.Conclusion. Sonography is a highly informative diagnostic imaging method in detecting metastasis from PTC to levels II–IV cervical lymph nodes and can be used for basic assessment of thyroid abnormalities.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 254-259
Author(s):  
Zhiliang Xu ◽  
Zhiyu Li ◽  
Qi Wu ◽  
Yimin Zhang ◽  
Shan Zhu ◽  
...  

Background: Carbon nanoparticle (CN) suspensions have been widely used as lymph node tracers in cancers. Here, CN suspension was successfully applied to lymph node dissection. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the role of CN suspension in identifying lymph nodes and preserving the parathyroid in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Method: A total of 96 PTC patients were divided into a CN group (n = 46) and a control group (n = 50). All patients underwent total thyroidectomy with central lymph node dissection from 2014 to 2015. Results: The number of lymph nodes removed in the CN group and the control group was 9.6±2.4 and 7.8±2.2, respectively, and the number of dissected lymph nodes identified as <5 mm in both groups was 4.4±1.3 and 2.4±1.4, respectively. These results were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.05). However, the number of metastatic lymph nodes was similar in the two groups. In addition, the results further revealed that the level of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) was significantly lower in the control group than in the CN group on postoperative day 1 and week 1 (P < 0.05), but similar outcomes were observed at postoperative month 1. Conclusion: CN suspension plays an important role in accurately identifying lymph nodes and protecting parathyroid glands. The clinical utilization of CN suspension could increase the accuracy of surgery programs and protect parathyroid function.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Muhammad Asad Iqbal ◽  
Xian Wang ◽  
Zhang Guoliang ◽  
Nida Fatima Moazzam ◽  
Ahmad Daniyal Shahid ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVE: To compare and evaluate diagnostic capabilities of preoperative ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the cervical lymph nodes of patients with papillary thyroid cancer. METHODS: A retrospective dataset involving 156 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy and preoperative US and MRI was assembled. Among these, 69 had cervical lymph node metastasis and 87 did not. At least four radiologists unilaterally and spontaneously investigated the US and MRI attributes of the cervical lymph nodes. The efficiency of diagnostic imaging for cervical lymph nodes, including their true-positive rate or sensitivity, true-negative rate or specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and predictive accuracy were analysed and assessed. RESULTS: In the assessment of cervical lymph node metastases of papillary thyroid cancer, the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of diagnostic US vs. MRI were 58.0% vs. 79.7%, 69.0% vs. 83.9%, 59.7% vs. 79.7%, 67.4% vs. 83.9%, and 64.1% vs. 82.1%, respectively. The accuracy consistency of the two imaging modalities was 83.5%. CONCLUSIONS: MRI is more effective than US in diagnosing and assessing cervical lymph node metastases of papillary thyroid cancer.


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