甲状腺乳头状微小癌淋巴结转移相关因素分析

目的：探讨甲状腺乳头状微小癌颈部淋巴结转移的相关因素,以及一期手术时行择区性淋巴结清扫术的意义。方法：甲状腺乳头状微小癌患者82例中,术中冷冻病理诊断为甲状腺乳头状微小癌者60例（第1组）,行择区性颈淋巴结清扫术;术中冷冻病理诊断为甲状腺良性疾病者22例（第2组）,未行择区性淋巴结清扫术。结果：行择区性颈淋巴结清扫术60例中,13例（21.67%）出现颈部淋巴结转移;最大直径〈0.7cm与≥0.7cm的肿瘤转移率分别为4.76%和30.77%,差异有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。所有患者平均随访59.8个月,无复发和死亡,未发现远处转移。结论：甲状腺乳头状微小癌具有一定比例的颈部淋巴结转移率,尤其对于肿瘤最大直径≥0.7cm者行择区性淋巴结清扫术是更有效的治疗方法。     

甲状腺乳头状癌颈部淋巴结转移规律及影响因素分析

目的：探讨甲状腺乳头状癌颈部淋巴结转移规律及其相关影响因素,为甲状腺乳头状癌颈部淋巴结清扫术提供一定的临床依据。方法：回顾性分析314例甲状腺乳头状癌患者的临床资料。314例患者中,行甲状腺腺叶峡部切除、中央区淋巴结清扫术79例,甲状腺全切、中央区淋巴结清扫术173例,甲状腺全切、中央区淋巴结清扫术、侧颈部改良根治性颈部淋巴结清扫术62例。手术中清扫出淋巴结1～55个,其中阳性淋巴结0～14个。结果：314例患者中经病理证实共有168例（53．50％）患者有淋巴结转移,其中中央区淋巴结转移159例（50．64％）,中央区＋侧颈转移淋巴结55例（17．52％）,单纯侧颈淋巴结转移9例（2．87％）。患者年龄、肿瘤直径、甲状腺被膜受侵犯、临床分期是甲状腺乳头状癌颈部淋巴结转移的影响因素（P〈0．05）。结论：甲状腺乳头状癌患者最常发生中央区淋巴结转移,应常规进行中央区淋巴结清扫术。     

甲状腺中静脉在甲状腺乳头状癌(cN0)Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫术中定位喉返神经的意义

目的:探讨甲状腺中静脉在甲状腺乳头状癌(cN0)Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫术中定位喉返神经的意义及手术注意事项.方法:回顾性分析甲状腺乳头状癌(cN0)213例,术中以甲状腺中静脉为标志来定位喉返神经后行Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫术.结果:213例患者中颈淋巴结转移82例,淋巴结转移率38.4%.喉返神经永久性损伤2例,暂时性损伤2例,永久性甲状旁腺功能减退2例,暂时性甲状旁腺功能减退6例.3例在术后3年内出现颈侧区淋巴结转移,转移率为1.36%.结论:以甲状腺中静脉为标志定位喉返神经后行Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫术,喉返神经损伤率和甲状旁腺损伤率较低.因而认为,以甲状腺中静脉为标志暴露喉返神经全程后,行Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫术是安全有效的.     

甲状腺乳头状癌术式探讨

目的：回顾分析甲状腺乳头状癌治疗效果，探讨外科治疗最佳方案。方法：对我院1984－1996年收治的228例甲状腺乳头状癌患者手术治疗结果进行分析。228例患者中肿瘤位于单侧叶者162例，狭部18例，双叶34例，侵犯甲状软骨及气管14例。颈淋巴cN0148例，cN^ 80例，术后均随访5年以上。结果：cN^ 者行功能性（41例）和根治性颈清扫（39例）的5年生存率分别为87．8％（36／41）和87．2％（34／39）。。腺内型cN0伴被膜侵犯者行选择性颈清扫21例，随诊观察20例，其5年生存率分别为90．5％（19／21）和90．0％（18／20），腺内型cN0不伴被膜侵犯者均未行颈清扫，其5年生存率为99．0％（99／100），5年内发生颈淋巴结转移率为1．0％（1／100）；腺外型cN0行颈清扫4例，5年内发生对侧转移为1／4，3例未行颈清扫者5年内发生颈淋巴转移为2／3。腺叶切除术后对侧复发率为2．47％（4／162）。行全甲状腺切除的5年生存率为85．7％（12／14），被膜内全甲状腺切除的5年生存率为85．0％（17／20）。侵犯甲状软骨板及气管者，行喉全切除，其5年生存率为3／5，保留喉功能的5年生存为6／9。结论：对甲状腺乳头状癌提倡功能性颈清扫；腺内型cN0者主张随访观察，发现淋巴转移再生颈清扫；腺外型cN0病人主张同期颈清扫。原发灶位于单侧行腺叶及峡部切除，位于峡部及左，右叶各1／3切除，位于双侧行被膜内全甲状腺切除，侵犯甲状软骨板及气管者尽可能保留喉功能。     

颈淋巴结清扫对临床颈淋巴结阴性伴高危因素甲状腺乳头状癌治疗的意义

目的 探讨临床颈淋巴结阴性(cN0)伴高危因素甲状腺乳头状癌(papillary thyroid cancer,PTC)的颈淋巴结转移规律,并对其行选择性清扫的必要性.方法 回顾性分析87例临床颈淋巴结阴性伴高危因素甲状腺乳头状癌初次行甲状腺癌手术并同期行颈清扫术患者的临床资料,对结果进行统计学分析.结果 87例(89侧)患者中,颈淋巴结阳性率62.9％,其中中央组淋巴结(Ⅵ区)转移率58.4％,颈侧区(Ⅱ一Ⅳ)阳性率38.2％,Ⅵ区与颈侧区淋巴结阳性率比较,差异有统计学意义(配对x2检验,x2=11.12,P＜0.01),同时行关联性分析表明,VI区与颈侧区转移有相关性(x2=20.11,P＜0.05,Pearson列联系数C=0.43).Ⅵ区阳性者,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ区淋巴结转移率分别为30.8％、61.5％、42.3％,颈侧各区之间转移率差异有统计学意义(x2=10.30,P＜0.01).结论 cN0伴高危因素PTC患者,Ⅵ区与颈侧区淋巴结转移有相关性,且Ⅵ区阳性者,颈侧各区之间转移率有差异,建议此类患者在常规清扫VI区淋巴结基础上进一步行颈侧清扫术,并可根据肿瘤位于甲状腺不同部位,选择颈侧各区的清扫范围.     

甲状腺微小乳头状癌行中央区淋巴结清扫的必要性探究

目的：分析甲状腺微小乳头状癌发生中央区淋巴结转移的危险因素,探讨中央区淋巴结清扫的必要性。方法：回顾2004—01—2012—05期间手术治疗的85例甲状腺微小乳头状癌患者的临床资料,通过单因素及多因素分析,明确中央区淋巴结转移的危险因素,为选择性地进行中央区淋巴结清扫术提供依据。结果：85例患者均接受了中央区淋巴结清扫术,其中同侧中央区清扫者66例,双侧中央区清扫者19例。3例同期行颈部淋巴结清扫术。33例（38．8％）发生中央区淋巴结转移,3例（3．53％）发生颈侧区淋巴结转移。单因素分析显示：不同性别、年龄组中央区淋巴结转移差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;肿瘤直径大于5mm、甲状腺外侵犯、多中心病灶、双侧病灶及术中探及中央区可疑阳性巴结者,发生中央区淋巴结转移的比例明显增高（P〈0．05）。多因素分析显示：肿瘤直径大于5mm（OR=3．862,P〈0．05）、甲状腺外侵犯（OR=3．885,P〈0．05）是发生中央区淋巴结转移的独立危险因素。结论：甲状腺微小乳头状癌患者肿瘤直径大5mm和（或）甲状腺外侵犯时,发生中央区淋巴结转移的危险性增加,有必要行中央区淋巴结清扫术。     

前哨淋巴结探查在甲状腺乳头状癌外科手术中的应用

目的：探讨甲状腺乳头状癌前哨淋巴结（SLN）的检测及其对颈淋巴结转移的预测价值。方法：用术中在肿瘤周围注射亚甲蓝的方法对25例甲状腺乳头状癌患者进行SLN的临床研究,术中取蓝染淋巴结及颈清淋巴结做常规苏木精-伊红染色病理检查,并将两者进行对照,观察SLN转移对颈淋巴结转移的预测作用。结果：25例患者中22例成功地显示了SLN,成功率为88％,显示的SLN中有19例病理阳性,其中13例颈淋巴结清扫术证实有非SLN的颈淋巴结转移,5例未发现有非SLN的其他淋巴结转移,1例因自身因素未行颈淋巴结清扫术。结论：SLN检测对预测甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移有重要价值。     

彩超结合CT分区评估甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移的探讨＊

目的：探讨术前彩超结合增强CT分区评估甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移的价值。方法：收集术前行颈部彩超同时行颈部、纵隔薄层增强CT检查的115例（141侧）甲状腺乳头状癌的临床资料,分为彩超组、CT组及彩超结合CT组分析比较三组在评估不同区域甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移中的作用。结果：评估颈中央区淋巴结转移,彩超、CT及彩超结合CT三组的准确率分别是61．0％,48．9％,62．4％;评估颈侧区淋巴结转移,彩超、CT及彩超结合CT三组的准确率分别是87．9％,78．7％,85．8％。彩超在颈中央区（P〈0．05）及颈侧区（P〈0．05）评估淋巴结转移的准确率均高于CT。彩超结合CT检查在颈中央区的准确率高于CT（P〈0．05）,而在颈侧区的准确率与CT比较差异无统计学意义（P〉O．05）。无论在颈中央区（P〉0．05）或在颈侧区（P〉0．05）,彩超与两者联合检查的准确率比较无统计学差异。术前CT考虑6例纵隔转移及1例咽旁间隙转移,术后病理证实均为淋巴结转移。纵隔增强CT扫描发现5例患者肺部转移。结论：彩超结合CT或单一彩超评估颈中央区及颈侧区甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结转移的准确性要高于CT。CT可以评估纵隔等彩超探及不到的区域淋巴结转移,同时对肺部转移进行评估。彩超结合增强CT应用于甲状腺乳头状癌淋巴结的评估,较单一检查更加精确、全面。     

分化型甲状腺癌Ⅵ区与Ⅱ-Ⅴ区淋巴转移的关系及预后

目的探讨分化型甲状腺癌Ⅵ区与颈侧区（Ⅱ-Ⅴ）区颈淋巴转移的特点，为临床选择正确术式提供依据。方法回顾性分析1984年3月至2000年12月，99例甲状腺癌患者在辽宁省肿瘤医院头颈外科进行初次手术，同期行颈清扫术，进行病理检查，术后随访，并对结果进行统计分析。结果99例分化型甲状腺癌中，乳头状甲状腺癌61例（双侧乳头状甲状腺癌1例），乳头滤泡混合型13例，滤泡状甲状腺癌25例。根据2002年UICCTNM分期：Ⅰ期60例，Ⅱ期1例，Ⅲ期5例，Ⅳ期33例。一侧腺叶及峡部切除80例，一侧腺叶及对侧大部或次全切除15例，全甲状腺切除术4例。全部患者同期颈清扫术104侧（双颈清扫5例），其中经典性清扫66例（68侧），改良性清扫33例（36侧）。术后病理检查淋巴结阳性83例（86侧），其中3例双侧淋巴结阳性，颈淋巴转移率为83．8％（83／99）。VI区阳性率37．5％（39／104），颈侧区（Ⅱ-Ⅴ区）阳性率76．9％（80／104），VI区和颈侧区淋巴结阳性率比较，差异有统计学意义（配对X^2检验，X^2=33．01，P〈0．01）。统计分析表明颈侧区淋巴转移和Ⅵ区淋巴转移无相关性（独立X。检验，X^2=2．08，Pearson列联系数C=0．14，P〉0．05）。10年、15年生存率分别为88．3％和84．5％。结论分化型甲状腺癌Ⅵ区与颈侧区（Ⅱ-Ⅴ区）淋巴转移率不同。不能仅从Ⅵ区转移判断颈侧区是否有转移。发生Ⅵ区淋巴转移的患者不比颈侧区（Ⅱ-Ⅴ区）淋巴转移的预后差，经过正确的外科治疗，预后较好。     

cN0期甲状腺微小乳头状癌淋巴结转移模型的构建和验证以及手术方式探讨

目的:构建和验证cN0期甲状腺微小乳头状癌Ⅵ区淋巴结转移模型,探讨甲状腺腺叶切除联合预防性Ⅵ区淋巴结清扫在cN0期甲状腺微小乳头状癌手术中的意义.方法:收集cN0期甲状腺微小乳头状癌并行Ⅵ区淋巴结清扫的患者670例.所有患者均行患侧甲状腺腺叶士峡部切除＋同侧Ⅵ区淋巴结清扫.将性别、年龄、甲状腺乳头状癌的大小、是否多灶、...     

Clinical study on papillary thyroid carcinoma presenting with lymph node metastasi

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) may metastasize to cervical lymph nodes. It is, however, uncommon for a palpable neck node alone to lead to the diagnosis of this disease when it is not apparent at presentation. Standard treatment for such cases has not yet been established. We retrospectively analyzed clinical courses in 8 patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma presenting with palpable lymph node metastasis at Hokkaido University Hospital between 1990 and 2003. Three had high thyrogloblin in cervical cystic lesions, leading to the diagnosis of PTC with lymph node metastasis. In 4, PTC was diagnosed by pathological examination of cervical lymph nodes initially diagnosed as lateral cervical cysts. Preoperative examination did not indicate PTC within the gland in any case. All 8 were alive at the last visit after follow-up from 23 to 150 months (mean: 78 months). Total thyroidectomy was done on 4 and thyroid lobectomy on 3. Pathological examination of resected thyroid glands confirmed multifocal papillary carcinoma from 4 mm to 15 mm in diameter. Six underwent unilateral neck dissection and 1 chose bilateral dissection. The other patient received no additional surgery on either the thyroid or neck after the single enlarged lymph node initially diagnosed as a lateral cervical cyst was resected. Postoperative radioiodine treatment was done in 2 undergoing total thyroidectomy. Recurrence in the cervical area were observed in 1 whose neck dissection was insufficient. Based on these observations, we concluded that patients who undergo thyroid lobectomy and adequate neck dissection may enjoy longer survival than those treated with total thyroidectomy without sacrificing thyroid and parathyroid function. We therefore propose a prospective study on the effectiveness of thyroid lobectomy with neck dissection including positive nodes in patients with occult PTC presenting with lymph node metastasis.     

甲状腺乳头状癌临床NO患者颈部淋巴结转移规律

目的 探讨甲状腺乳头状癌临床NO( clinical NO,cN0)患者颈部淋巴结转移规律和外科处理方式.方法 前瞻性研究2007年8月至2010年9月51例甲状腺乳头状癌cNO患者.术前采用核素法和染料法定位前哨淋巴结,并行术中冰冻病理检查,与术后颈清扫标本常规病理进行对照.记录51例患者53侧颈部淋巴结清扫转移淋巴结的数量及在Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ、Ⅵ区的分布情况.研究患者年龄、肿瘤多中心病灶、被膜外侵、肿瘤大小、中央区淋巴转移数目与颈侧区淋巴转移的关系,影响颈侧区淋巴转移率单因素差异比较采用x2检验,Logistic模型进行多因素分析.结果 颈部淋巴结隐匿性转移率77.4％ (41/53),颈侧隐匿性转移率58.5％(31/53),中央区淋巴转移≥3枚是颈侧区淋巴转移的独立危险因素.pNO 12侧,pN+41侧,17侧仅有1个分区转移,占pN+的41.5％( 17/41);2个或2个以上分区转移24侧,占pN+的58.5％( 24/41).转移淋巴结分布以Ⅵ区最常见,为62.3％(33/53),其次为Ⅲ区52.8％(28/53),Ⅳ区30.2％(16/53),Ⅱ区18.9％(10/53),Ⅴ区0％ (0/53).结论 甲状腺乳头状癌cNO患者隐匿性淋巴结转移以多区转移为主,Ⅵ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅱ区常见.中央区淋巴转移≥3枚较易出现颈侧淋巴转移,对cNO患者选择性清扫Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅵ区能清除大部分存在的颈部隐匿性转移淋巴结.     

Papillary Thyroid Cancer: Controversies in the Management of Neck Metastasis

Objective/Hypothesis: To describe our institution's experience with the management of cervical metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and suggest a treatment strategy based on the incidence of pathologic nodes and cervical recurrence in patients undergoing varied surgical approaches to address lymphadenopathy over the study dates. Materials and Methods: Between December 1, 1972 and September 1, 2007, 183 total patients diagnosed with PTC at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center were treated with lymphadenectomy. Pathologic parameters, including number of pathologic nodes and extent of lymphadenectomy were correlated to disease recurrence. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Results: The incidence of pathologic nodes in lymphadenectomy specimens (57.9%) and the recurrence rate (33.7%) were high, in our study population. In comparing techniques with address lymphadenopathy, the highest recurrence rate was observed in patients with pathologic nodes treated with “lymph node plucking” procedures at the time of thyroidectomy and those patients with multiple nodes involved. Few patients with no pathologic nodes, regardless of lymphadenectomy extent recurred. Conclusions: Our data show that limited neck dissection and disease burden are associated with the highest rates of cervical recurrence in regional metastatic PTC. Comprehensive functional neck dissection would seem to offer the patient the best opportunity for control of cervical metastasis. The American Thyroid Association recommends thyroglobulin monitoring and ultrasound evaluation of the neck in all postoperative patients. Therefore patients with the diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer need preoperative ultrasound of the lateral neck and fine needle aspiration of suspicious nodes to avoid undertreating patients scheduled for total thyroidectomy. Neck dissection of the compartments in which pathologic nodes were detected (central, lateral, or both) should then be undertaken at the time of initial thyroidectomy. Eliminating all disease remains elusive and the prognosticsignificance of cervical disease persistence and recurrence is still unknown. Patients with cervical metastasis are at substantial risk of regional recurrence, necessitating repeat surgery. Parathyroid implantation should be considered at the time of the initial surgery to reduce the risk of hypoparathyroidism should subsequent procedures be required. More information will be necessary to better understand the prognostic significance of these regional metastases. In the interim, many patients may be overtreated, whereas some remain at risk of death because of disease.     

甲状腺乳头状癌cN0患者中央区淋巴转移的研究

目的 探讨临床淋巴结阴性(cNO)甲状腺乳头状癌患者中央区(Ⅵ区)淋巴转移规律及清扫的临床价值.方法 回顾性分析中国医学科学院肿瘤医院头颈外科2003年1月至2006年12月初治的cNO甲状腺乳头状癌并行中央区淋巴清扫的108例患者临床资料.研究患者性别、年龄、肿瘤多中心病灶、被膜外侵、肿瘤大小、部位与中央区淋巴转移的关系.影响中央区淋巴转移率单因素差异比较采用 x2检验,Logistic模型进行多因素分析,Kaplan-Meier法计算生存率、颈侧复发率和远处转移率.结果 cNO甲状腺乳头状癌中央区淋巴转移率为59.2%(64/108),年龄小于45岁、甲状腺被膜受侵、肿瘤直径＞3 cm是中央区淋巴转移的独立危险因素(比值比分别为5.514、5.610和3.122,P值均＜0.05).本组中央区淋巴清扫喉返神经暂时性麻痹发生率为1.8%(2/108).术后暂时性低钙发生率为4.6%(5/108),永久性低钙发生率为0.9%(1/108).中位随访时间53个月,6例患者颈侧复发转移,2例局部复发,其中1例患者局部复发后死亡.5年颈侧复发率、生存率分别为4.8%、99.1%.结论 cNO甲状腺乳头状癌中央区淋巴转移率高,中央区淋巴清扫术后并发症的发生率低,建议对cNO甲状腺乳头状癌患者行中央区淋巴清扫.     

Management of lateral cervical metastases in papillary thyroid cancer: patterns of lymph node distribution

In this article we discuss the management of lateral cervical lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). We conducted a retrospective analysis of cases of PTC at our tertiary academic medical center involving 32 patients who underwent 39 neck dissections for the management of lateral cervical metastases from 2000 to 2007. Of these patients, 18 underwent primary neck dissections at the time of thyroidectomy after fine-needle aspiration biopsy confirmed the PTC. Secondary neck dissections for delayed metastases were performed in 14 patients who had previously undergone thyroidectomy for confirmed PTC. All 32 patients had positive nodes in at least one level. Our results highlight the high incidence of multilevel cervical metastasis associated with PTC and suggest the importance of including level II-B (submuscular recess) when performing a neck dissection; the upper posterior triangle (level V-A) is less likely to harbor occult tumor. Lateral neck metastasis from PTC is common and predictable; locoregional control is improved with a formal, comprehensive neck dissection at the time of thyroidectomy.     

cN0甲状腺微小乳头状癌淋巴结转移高危因素及行预防性清扫临床分析

目的 探讨影响cN0甲状腺微小乳头状癌淋巴结转移高危因素及行预防性清扫的意义及可行性。方法 回顾性分析济南军区总医院2008年2月至2012年9月术前诊断为cN0甲状腺微小乳头状癌行甲状腺全切并双侧中央区淋巴结及患侧Ⅲ、Ⅴ区(+)Ⅱ区淋巴结清扫162例的临床资料,统计年龄、性别、肿物大小、有无侵及甲状腺被膜情况、原发灶数目、肿瘤单双侧、颈部淋巴结转移、手术并发症,探讨临床特征与颈部淋巴结转移关系。结果 162例患者中74例(45.7%)患者发生颈部淋巴结转移,71例中央区淋巴结转移阳性,转移率为43.8%,45例颈侧区(Ⅲ、Ⅴ区(+)Ⅱ区)淋巴结转移阳性,转移率为29.6%。年龄、肿瘤有无浸润包膜是PTMC颈部淋巴结转移的危险因素。术后并发喉返神经麻痹发生率为0.62%(1/162),系肿瘤侵犯喉返神经切断喉返神经所致,其中1例(0.62%)术后颈部切口出血,行手术止血,2例(1.23%)皮下淤血,保守治疗治愈。2例(1.23%)术后乳糜漏,均为左侧清扫患者,行持续负压吸引、左颈静脉角局部加压包扎治疗后治愈。 59例(36.4%)患者术后出现低钙血症,血甲状旁腺PTH低于参考值下限,治疗后恢复正常。无永久性甲状旁腺损伤并发症发生。结论 对cN0PTMC行甲状腺全切并双侧中央区淋巴结清扫,高危患者行患侧Ⅲ、Ⅴ区(+)Ⅱ区淋巴结清扫具有重要意义并安全可行。     

Diagnosis of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid by ultrasonography

No consensus for papillary carcinoma of the thyroid exists on the preoperative diagnosis of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis, indications, or range of neck dissection, so we studied the usefulness and limits of ultrasonography and sufficient dissection by comparing preoperative ultrasonographic and postoperative histopathological diagnosis. Subjects were 45 patients (51 affected sides) with lateral cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid who underwent modified neck dissection between July 1997 and July 2003. Preoperative ultrasonographic and postoperative histopathological diagnosis were compared. Specimens excised by neck dissection contained 1,325 lymph nodes. Of these, 198 (15%) detected by preoperative ultrasonography were selected for investigation of diagnostic criteria for metastasis-positive lymph nodes. The best criterion for the diagnosis of metastasis-positive lymph node was 0.5 or greater [minor axis/major axis] with 6 mm or greater minor axis at levels III, IV, or V (7 mm or greater at level II), and sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were 78%, 100%, and 84% respectively. The lateral cervical lymph node metastasis rate obtained by this diagnostic criterion was 41%. Regional histopathological metastasis positivity was investigated in the lateral cervical region, and high positivity rates were obtained: 57% at level II, 71% at level III, and 84% at level IV. Considering these findings and the preoperative ultrasonographic diagnosis rate of 41%, sufficient dissection at levels II-IV may be necessary for patients in whom lateral cervical metastasis is observed before surgery. The metastasis rate was 10% at level V, but dissection should always be done in lateral cervical metastasis-positive patients because: 1) No trend was observed in age, gender, the number of metastatic lymph nodes, or regional metastasis rate; 2) no anatomical boundary is present between levels II, III, IV and level V; 3) no functional disorder due to preservation of the accessory nerve occurred; 4) the prognosis of patients with advancement to the accessory nerve was poor; and 5) improvement of the prognosis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid by modified radical neck dissection has been reported.     

Treatment strategy for T4N1 thyroid papillary carcinoma based upon our clinical experience

We retrospectively evaluated clinical profiles and prognoses in 152 patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma treated at Fukui Medical University between 1986 and 2000. As standard treatment, 106 (70%) underwent hemithyroidectomy to preserve the normal thyroid lobe. Subtotal thyroidectomy or total thyroidectomy was conducted on 40 cases (23%). Regional lymphnodes were extirpated in 104 (68%) with pathological N0, and radical or conservative neck dissection for 46 cases (30%) with pathological N1. Overall survival for 10 years, estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method, was 100% in both stage I and II, and 95% in stage III. Of 152 thyroid papillary cases, 22 (14%) had tumor recurrence. Of 51 in stage III, 14 (27%) had tumor recurrence. The 14 recurrent in stage III showed local extrathyroidal invasion. Note that 5 of 10 (50%) T4N1 treated with hemithyroidectomy had tumor recurrence in the residual thyroid lobe. Of 11 T4N0 cases who underwent hemithyroidectomy, none had tumor recurrence in the residual thyroid lobe. Results suggest that patients with T4N1 should be treated by total thyroidectomy and neck dissection at initial treatment. Tumor size, cervical lymphnodal metastasis, and distant metastasis may be prognostic factors for thyroid papillary carcinoma.