30例甲状腺微小癌的外科治疗体会

【摘要】 目的 总结甲状腺微小癌的外科治疗经验。方法 回顾性分析2010年5月至2014年5月收治30例甲状腺微小癌患者的临床资料。结果〓30例病例均行手术切除,其中24例(80.00%)术中冰冻切片证实,6例(20.00%)术后病理确诊。24例中,单侧甲状腺腺叶加峡部切除术加中央区颈淋巴结(VI)清扫术14例;双侧甲状腺全切7例;单侧腺叶、峡部切除术加同侧颈淋巴结清扫术3例。术后病理确诊的6例均采用一侧腺体大部切除。全组30例无手术死亡和术后并发症,随访未见肿瘤复发。结论〓单侧甲状腺腺叶及峡部切除是甲状腺微小癌手术治疗较理想的术式;有淋巴结转移者同时行功能性颈部淋巴结清扫术。     

结合冰冻病理特点探讨乳头状甲状腺微小癌的合理术式

目的 为避免二次手术,结合冰冻病理特点探讨乳头状甲状腺微小癌首次手术的合理术式.方法 随访近5年在首都医科大学附属北京天坛医院门诊复诊的乳头状甲状腺微小癌患者96例.比较患侧腺叶加峡部切除(单侧组)与患侧腺叶加峡部切除加对侧腺叶次全切除(双侧组)两种术式的转移复发率.比较中央区淋巴结清扫组(清扫组)与非清扫组(非清扫组)的转移复发率和喉返神经损伤率.结果 术中冰冻病理能够确诊为癌53例(55％).无论高低危人群,单侧组与双侧组转移复发率差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).清扫组与非清扫组转移复发率在高低危人群差异均无统计学意义(P＞0.05).清扫组的喉返神经暂时性损伤率在高危人群(P =0.040,P＜0.05)和低危人群(P =0.037,P＜0.05)均较非清扫组高.结论 乳头状甲状腺微小癌术中冰冻病理确诊难度高,首次术式合理为患侧腺叶加峡部切除.术中探查无明确淋巴转移者不作预防清扫.     

甲状腺微小乳头状癌淋巴结转移相关因素及手术方式探讨

目的 分析甲状腺微小乳头状癌原发灶与颈淋巴结转移的相关性,探讨甲状腺微小乳头状癌的手术方式.方法 回顾首都医科大学附属北京友谊医院2013年1月-2016年12月间手术治疗的545例甲状腺微小乳头状癌患者资料,其中女性432例,男性113例(性别比例3.82∶1);年龄14 ～ 80岁,平均(46.7±11.8)岁.手术方式:全/近全切除70.6％(385/545),腺叶+峡部切除29.4％(160/545);颈中央区淋巴结清扫524例,其中单侧清扫78.3％ (427/524),双侧清扫17.8％ (97/524);颈侧区淋巴结清扫14例,均为单侧清扫.共切除甲状腺腺叶标本930个,颈中央区淋巴结标本622个,颈侧区淋巴结标本14个.从中筛选出甲状腺癌腺叶与同侧颈淋巴结有对应关系的576组标本,癌灶长径(0.58±0.25) cm,单灶513例(89.1％),多灶63例(10.9％).无甲状腺被膜侵犯441例(76.6％),有甲状腺被膜侵犯135例(23.4％).颈中央区淋巴结清扫数量(4.7±3.8)枚,颈中央区淋巴结转移率31.8％,颈侧区淋巴结清扫数量(17.8±10.0)枚,颈侧区淋巴结转移率2.4％.使用SPSS 19.0统计学软件进行数据分析,计量资料用均数±标准差((x)±s)表示,分类变量资料用率(％)或构成比(％)表示,单因素相关性分析用Pearson检验,计数资料组间比较采用x2检验.结果 甲状腺微小乳头状癌癌灶长径与颈中央区淋巴结转移率呈高度正相关关系(r =0.847),癌灶长径＞0.8 cm时颈中央区淋巴结转移率明显增加;癌灶长径与颈侧区淋巴结转移率呈显著正相关关系(r =0.557),癌灶长径＞0.9 cm时颈侧区淋巴结转移率明显增加.单灶和多灶病例颈中央区和颈侧区淋巴结转移率相似.有被膜侵犯比无被膜侵犯颈中央区和颈侧区淋巴结转移率均增加.结论 甲状腺微小乳头状癌的癌灶长径、有被膜侵犯是颈淋巴结转移的相关因素,癌灶数量不是颈淋巴结转移的相关因素.甲状腺微小乳头状癌尽早手术能够使很多已经发生颈淋巴结转移、但无法获得术前诊断的患者得到及时治疗.初次治疗的手术方式选择腺叶峡部切除或全/近全切除+病灶同侧/双侧颈中央区和(或)加行颈侧区淋巴结清扫.     

甲状腺微小癌29例报告

探讨甲状腺微小癌的临床特点诊断及手术的切除范围。对14年间收治的29例甲状腺微小癌的临床资料进行回顾性分析。术前6例经纫针穿刺细胞学检查结合B超确诊。颈淋巴结转移为首发症状者10例。14例行一例腺叶全切加峡部切除术，9例加颈淋巴清扫术，5例行一侧腺叶全切加对侧次全切除术；1例行甲状腺全切并同侧颈淋巴结清扫术。29例中乳头状腺癌28例，滤泡状腺癌1例。术后随访1—12年，仅1例术后3年复发，无1例死亡。提示甲状腺微小癌恶性程度低，颈部淋巴结转移多见，手术切除预后好。     

甲状腺乳头状癌的手术治疗方式比较

目的：探讨甲状腺乳头状癌手术治疗的方式。方法：205例患者中,行患侧腺叶和峡部切除术者137例,行全甲状腺切除者65例,行功能性颈部淋巴结清扫术者37例。结果：行患侧腺叶、峡部切除术者,术中及术后情况明显优于全甲状腺切除者。结论：甲状腺乳头状癌主张行患侧腺叶切除、峡部切除。如有颈部淋巴结肿大,同时行患侧淋巴结清扫,而对于无淋巴结转移者,不考虑功能性颈部淋巴结清扫术。     

甲状腺乳头状微小癌手术方式探讨

目的 探讨治疗甲状腺乳头状微小癌最佳的手术方式.方法 2000年1月-2010年1月139例甲状腺乳头状微小癌患者在济南军区总医院甲状腺乳腺外科接受了不同范围的甲状腺切除+选择性颈淋巴结清扫术,本文对其临床、病理和随访资料进行分析.结果 139例甲状腺乳头状微小癌患者中,甲状腺全切除者91例,甲状腺大部切除或次全切除者48例,癌灶直径平均为(0.45 ±0.24) cm其中42例(30.2％)甲状腺微小癌为多灶性,27例(19.4％)为双侧癌.59例(42.4％)伴有颈部淋巴结转移,其中Ⅵ、Ⅱa、Ⅲ或Ⅳ区淋巴结转移者分别为58例(41.7％)、3例(2.2％)、10例(7.9％)、5例(3.6％),仅有Ⅲ区淋巴结转移者1例.甲状腺乳头状微小癌颈淋巴结转移与微小癌浸润甲状腺被膜密切相关(x2=38.39,P＜0.001).本组病例随访30 ～154个月,中位随访时间为103个月,2例对侧残留腺叶复发.无永久性甲状旁腺功能减退发生.随访满10年者16例,10年生存率为100％.结论 多发癌灶和Ⅵ区淋巴结转移是甲状腺乳头状微小癌的2个重要的临床病理学特点.甲状腺乳头状微小癌初次手术时行甲状腺全切除+Ⅵ区淋巴结清扫是最佳的术式,可降低术后复发.     

双侧甲状腺癌外科诊治体会

目的 探讨双侧甲状腺癌的诊断与外科治疗经验.方法 回顾分析72例双侧甲状腺癌外科治疗临床资料.结果 术后石蜡切片均证实为双侧甲状腺癌,其中双侧微小癌17例,一侧微小癌、一侧非微小癌41例,双侧均非微小癌14例.双侧乳头状癌67例(93.1%),双侧滤泡性癌2例(2.8%),双侧髓样癌2例(2.8%),双侧低分化癌1例(1.4%).62例行双侧甲状腺全切除术,2例行双侧甲状腺近全切除术,8例行一侧全切加对侧次全切除术,常规行双侧中央组淋巴结清扫.加行一侧改良颈淋巴结清扫术19例.中央组淋巴结转移率33.33%(24/72).即使双侧甲状腺微小癌灶中央区淋巴结转移率亦有17.65%(3/17).肿块大小与中央区淋巴转移率有一定相关性,但无统计学意义(P＞0.05).70例随访3个月至8年,中位随访时间5年6个月,67例无瘤生存,另外3例出现颁部淋巴结转移.术后无.例出现永久性甲状旁腺机能减退和喉返神经麻痹.结论 双侧甲状腺癌主张行双侧甲状腺腺叶全切除;应重视中央组淋巴结清扫.     

腔镜辅助小切口患侧甲状腺腺叶切除联合Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫术治疗甲状腺微小乳头状癌临床效果观察

目的 探讨腔镜辅助小切口患侧甲状腺腺叶切除联合Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫术治疗甲状腺微小乳头状癌(PTMC)的临床应用效果.方法 回顾性分析2019-01—2020-03间确山县人民医院普外科行腔镜辅助小切口患侧甲状腺腺叶切除联合Ⅵ区颈淋巴结清扫术治疗的80例PTMC患者的临床资料,按手术方式分为腔镜辅助小切口手术组(腔镜辅助组...     

甲状腺微小癌诊断和治疗：附52例报告

目的分析甲状腺微小癌的临床特征,并探讨其诊断及手术治疗方法。方法回顾性分析分析2003—2008年经手术和病理证实的52例甲状腺微小癌临床资料。结果术后病理检查确诊甲状腺微小癌52例,其中术中冷冻切片发现30例,准确率57．7％,末发现22例。术前B超检查48例为实质性结节（92．31％）,边界不清楚,4例为含液性病灶,19例（35．19％）有细砂粒样钙化;B超术前诊断甲状腺癌11例。38例行忠侧甲状腺叶切除加对侧甲状腺次全切除,3例双侧甲状腺全切除术,3例行双侧甲状腺次全切除,患侧全切除5例,3例加行一侧改良性颈部淋巴结清扫。27例cN1行中央组淋巴结清扫,转移半11／27（40．74％）,其余25例cN0未探及中央组淋巴结而未行清扫。随访率96．2％,随访时间3个月至5年,无1例复发及死亡。结论（1）术前B超为首选检查。（2）对甲状腺微小癌,主张行患侧腺叶全切加峡部切除及对侧腺叶次全切除,并行中央组淋巴结清扫。     

甲状腺患侧腺叶联合峡部切除治疗甲状腺微小乳头状癌近期效果分析

目的观察甲状腺患侧腺叶联合峡部切除治疗甲状腺微小乳头状癌(PTMC)的近期效果。方法选取2015-01—2018-01间在郑州市第六人民医院接受手术的120例甲状腺PTMC患者。依据不同术式分为2组,每组60例。对照组行患侧腺叶切除+峡部切除+中央区淋巴结清扫,观察组实施患侧腺叶联合峡部切除。比较2组近期效果。结果观察组手术切口、手术时间、术中出血量及术后并发症发生率、住院时间均明显短(少)于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。术后随访1 a,复查彩超,2组均未见局部复发和淋巴结转移,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论甲状腺患侧叶联合峡部切除治疗甲状腺微小乳头状癌,手术时间短、术中出血量少、住院时间短,并发症发生率低;而且近期效果与患侧腺叶切除+峡部切除+中央区淋巴结清扫相同。     

Is it possible to intraoperatively modulate the extent of thyroidectomy in small papillary thyroid carcinoma?

BackgroundThyroid lobectomy is the preferred option for small, unifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma. Involvement of the central neck lymph nodes is an indication for total thyroidectomy plus central neck dissection. We aimed to verify if frozen section examination of ipsilateral central neck nodes can identify the subgroup of patients scheduled for thyroid lobectomy intraoperatively who could benefit of more extensive initial operative treatment.MethodsNinety-four consenting patients with clinically unifocal cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma underwent thyroid lobectomy plus ipsilateral central neck dissection with frozen section examination. If the frozen section examination was positive for metastases, a completion thyroidectomy and a bilateral central neck dissection were accomplished during the same procedure.ResultsFrozen section examination identified occult nodal metastases in 25 of the 94 patients who then underwent immediate completion thyroidectomy and bilateral central neck dissection. Overall, central neck node metastases were found at final histology in 35 cases: occult micrometastases were observed in additional 9 patients and nodal metastases ≥2 mm in additional 1 patient.ConclusionIntraoperative assessment of nodal status obtained with ipsilateral central neck dissection and frozen section examination is able to change the extent of thyroidectomy in about one-fourth of patients scheduled for thyroid lobectomy. Frozen section examination appears a safe and effective strategy to decrease the need of a second-step completion procedure and, theoretically, the risk of recurrence.     

Papillary Microcarcinoma: Is There Any Difference between Clinically Overt and Occult Tumors?

Introduction Papillary microcarcinoma (PMC) is a subtype of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) associated with excellent prognosis. However, clinical and biologic behaviors of PMC may vary considerably between tumors that are clinically overt and those that are occult. Materials and Methods From 1964 to 2003, 185 of 628 patients with PTC were identified as having PMC, based on tumor size ≤1 cm. There were 110 overt and 75 occult PMCs detected based on clinical presentation. The clinicopathologic features, treatment, and long-term outcome of PMCs were evaluated and compared between the two groups. Results There were 37 men and 148 women with a median age of 45 years (range: 11–84 years). The median tumor size was 6.2 mm. Thirty-eight (21%) patients presented with cervical nodal metastases. Three (1.6%) had distant metastases and 5 (2.7%) underwent incomplete resection. Bilateral procedures were performed for 129 patients (70%) and 53 (29%) received postoperative I¹³¹treatment. During a mean follow-up of 8.2 years, 4 patients died of the disease and 13 developed recurrence. Clinically overt PMCs were significantly larger, were more likely to be multifocal, and more likely to lead to bilateral thyroidectomy. Extrathyroidal or lymphovascular invasion, nodal metastases, I¹³¹ablation, high-risk tumors, and postoperative recurrence occurred in overt PMC only. Patients with nodal metastases had a decreased survival and an increase in locoregional recurrence. Conclusions Despite a relatively good prognosis in PMC, a distinction should be made between clinically overt and occult PMCs in which clinically overt PMC should be managed according to tumor risk profile and clinical presentation. Free paper presentation at International Surgical Week 2005, Durban, South Africa 21–25 August, 2005     

Comprehensive clinical assessment of 740 cases of surgically treated thyroid cancer in children of Belarus

OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was designed to evaluate the results of surgical treatment and follow-up data in thyroid cancer patients less than 15 years old at the time of surgery. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Pediatric thyroid carcinomas have a high rate of lymph nodal and distant metastases. Risk factors for recurrences and postoperative morbidity have not been assessed yet in a representative series. METHODS: The group included 740 pediatric patients with thyroid cancer. Total thyroidectomy was performed in 426 (57.6%), lobectomy in 248 (33.5%), subtotal thyroidectomy in 58 (7.8%) cases, and 8 patients (1.1%) underwent partial lobectomy. RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 115.8 months (range, 1.5-236.4 months). Recurrence was diagnosed in 204 cases (27.6%), including 73 local relapses (9.9%), 90 distant metastases (12.2%), and a combination of local and distant recurrences in 41 (5.5%) patients. Multivariate statistical assessment revealed the following independent parameters significantly associated with the risk of recurrent nodal disease: a young age at diagnosis, multifocal carcinomas, N1 status, and lack of neck lymph node dissection. For lung metastases, the significant risk factors were female gender, young age at diagnosis, and presence of symptoms. The observed 5- and 10-year survival for the entire group was 99.5% and 98.8%, respectively. Postoperative hypoparathyroidism was significantly associated with multifocal tumors, central compartment removal, and ipsilateral dissection. CONCLUSIONS: Total thyroidectomy followed by radioiodine therapy is an optimal treatment strategy that makes it possible to achieve a cure in a vast majority of pediatric patients with differentiated thyroid carcinomas. Risk of recurrence is strongly associated with tumor stage, extent of surgery, the young patient's age, and presence of symptoms at diagnosis.     

分化型甲状腺微小癌的诊断和治疗：附138例报道

目的:探讨分化型甲状腺微小癌(TMC)的临床特征与诊治疗经验。方法:回顾分析2007年1月—2013年12月间经手术及病理证实138例分化型TMC患者的临床资料,并与2012年1月—2013年12月间29例怀疑甲状腺恶性肿瘤而手术的良性甲状腺结节(BTN)患者资料对比分析。结果:138例TMC中,微小乳头状癌131例,微小滤泡状癌5例,微小混合型癌2例;49例合并结节性甲状腺肿,5例与结节性甲状腺肿和桥本甲状腺炎共存,7例合并桥本甲状腺炎,2例合并甲状腺功能亢进。与BTN患者比较,TMC患者中TI-RADS分级恶性诊断率明显升高、砂砾钙化率、超声造影检查中的恶性诊断率均明显升高(均P0.05)。所有TMC患者均行术中快速病理检查,患侧甲状腺全切84例,患侧甲状腺全切+对侧甲状腺部分切除46例,双侧甲状腺全切5例,患侧甲状腺全切+对侧甲状腺近全切除3例;85例患者行患侧中央区气管旁淋巴结清扫,3例患者加行患侧功能性颈部淋巴结清扫术。术后均终生服用甲状腺素片。结论:高分辨率彩超、TI-RADS分级及超声造影联合应用可提高甲状腺TMC诊断率,TMC多为分化好的乳头状癌,高钙化率,患侧腺叶加峡部切除同时行患侧中央区淋巴结清扫是其主要的手术方式。     

中央区淋巴结清扫在cN0期甲状腺乳头状癌中的应用

目的 观察不同临床特点cN0期甲状腺乳头状癌患者的中央区淋巴结转移情况,探讨预防性中央区淋巴结清扫术的应用指征及手术范围。方法 回顾性分析2015年3月至2016年12月期间我院收治的93例甲状腺乳头状癌患者的病历及病理资料。分析患者性别、年龄、肿瘤大小、是否为多灶癌、肿瘤是否累及被膜等因素与中央区淋巴结转移率的关系。所有病例均行甲状腺全切除或近全切除术+患侧中央区淋巴结清扫术,并将患侧中央区标本送冰冻及石蜡病理检查,后再行对侧中央区淋巴结清扫术。观察中央区淋巴结转移情况及患侧中央区淋巴结冰冻与石蜡病理检查符合情况。结果 本组病例男性18例,女性75例;平均年龄41±13.9岁。T165例,T218例,T310例,T40例;单侧多灶癌8例;肿瘤突破甲状腺包膜9例。本组中央区淋巴结转移率为46.2%（43/93）,18.2%（17/93）为双侧中央区淋巴结转移。性别、肿瘤位置、年龄、肿瘤直径、T分期等因素与CLN转移差异无统计学意义。患侧中央区淋巴结冰冻病理检查的敏感性、特异性、准确性分别为86.0%、100%、93.5%。结论 对cN0期甲状腺乳头状癌应常规行患侧中央区淋巴结清扫术;术中冰冻检查能准确预测患侧中央区淋巴结转移状态;术中应常规行冰冻切片检查,如患侧中央区淋巴结转移时,建议行双侧中央区淋巴结清扫术。     

Established prognostic variables in N0 oral carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the utility of established prognostic variables in patients with oral carcinoma and a clinically negative neck. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: The distribution of occult metastases was assessed in 105 oral cancer patients with no clinical or radiological evidence of nodal disease. Predictors for nodal metastases, recurrence, and survival were examined. RESULTS: Occult neck metastases occurred in 34 percent of patients. Tumor thickness was the only independent predictor of occult metastases, with thin (5 mm) tumors having a 10 percent and 46 percent incidence of regional disease, respectively (P = 0.001). Nodal metastases and perineural invasion were significant predictors of survival. CONCLUSION: Patients with thick tumors are at high risk of nodal metastases and are likely to benefit from elective neck dissection. Comprehensive neck dissection should be considered in advanced primary disease. SIGNIFICANCE: Tumor thickness is the most important predictor of occult regional metastases in oral cavity cancer.     

Clinically unsuspected papillary microcarcinomas of the thyroid: a common finding with favorable biology?

BackgroundThe purpose of this study was to describe the incidence and clinical/pathologic characteristics of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PMC) in a community hospital setting and to evaluate the frequency and characteristics of these lesions when unsuspected preoperatively.MethodsA total of 723 patients underwent a partial or total thyroidectomy. A retrospective review was performed.ResultsA total of 194 of the 723 patients had a final diagnosis of papillary carcinoma. Ninety-six (49%) of these tumors were PMCs defined as being 1.0 cm or less in diameter. One third (32 of 96) of these lesions were multifocal and 16.7% (16 of 96) were found to have regional lymph node metastases. The majority (58%) of PMCs were found on final pathology and were clinically unsuspected (occult). Multifocality was found in 32.1% (18 of 56) of patients with clinically unsuspected PMC, with nodal metastases in 3.6% (2 of 56). The other 40 patients with PMC had surgeries performed for a clinical reason related to that pathologic lesion. This clinically suspected group was comparably multifocal (35%), but more likely to have cervical lymph node metastasis (35%). Sixty-six percent (37 of 56) diagnosed with a clinically unsuspected PMC underwent a partial thyroidectomy at the initial surgery.ConclusionsThe prevalence of clinically unsuspected PMC in our population undergoing thyroidectomy was 7.7% (56 of 723). In our institution, this is more than half of all PMCs. The incidence of cervical lymph node metastasis in clinically unsuspected PMC was only 3.6% compared with 35% in clinically suspected disease, suggesting that the biological behavior (and possibly treatment) may be different. Long-term follow-up evaluation is needed to better evaluate the significance of these differences.     

多灶性甲状腺乳头状癌168例临床研究

目的:探讨多灶性甲状腺乳头状癌的临床特征及外科治疗方式.方法:回顾分析1997年1月至2006年12月间首次手术并经病理证实的甲状腺乳头状癌648例,其中多灶病例168例.比较单灶组与多灶组及多灶组间的临床病理学差异.结果:本组多灶性甲状腺乳头状癌发生率为25.9%,其中双侧甲状腺多发病灶者117例(69.6%).多灶组在男性(P=0.004)、甲状腺癌家族史(P=0.031)、体检(P=0.000)及B超发现颈部淋巴结肿大(P=0.001)、B超提示结节钙化灶(P=0.001)、颈淋巴结转移(P=0.008)及甲状腺外侵犯(P=0.001)发生率等方面叫显高于单灶患者.而单灶组在伴有良性甲状腺疾病的比例明显高于多灶组(P=0.000).多灶性甲状腺乳头状癌病例中,男性、体检颈部淋巴结大、肿瘤位于双侧及病灶数目≥3个倾向于肿瘤较大、颈部淋巴结转移或甲状腺外侵犯的比例较高;而伴有良性甲状腺疾病的多灶性癌恶性度相对较低.本组164例(97.6%)获得随访;平均随访46.1个月(2～127个月).随访中5例死亡,1例胸部X线片怀疑肺部转移,16个月健在;6例于术后3～41个月因颈淋巴结复发再次手术;2例于术后13个月、24个月残余腺体肿瘤复发手术切除.总的1、2、5、10年生存期分别为98.2%、97.4%、96.5%、96.5%.美国癌症联合会(AJCC)分期与预后相关(X<'2=168.832,P=0.000).结论:多发病灶是甲状腺乳头状癌的临床特征之一,其生物学恶性度更高.甲状腺全切+中央区淋巴结清扫可视为标准手术方式,在外侧区出现淋巴结肿大时需加行侧方清扫.AJCC分期仍是多灶性甲状腺乳头状癌的重要预后因素.     

Serum vascular endothelial growth factor C correlates with lymph node metastases and high-risk tumor profiles in papillary thyroid carcinoma

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical relevance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-C in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: VEGF is a potent angiogenic factor promoting tumor angioinvasion and distant metastases, whereas VEGF-C enhances nodal metastases because of its lymphangiogenic effect. Although both tissues VEGF and VEGF-C have been shown to contribute to tumor metastases in PTC, the clinical relevance of serum VEGF (sVEGF) and sVEGF-C remains unknown. METHODS: Preoperative serum samples collected from 85 primary PTC patients and 44 control subjects with benign thyroid diseases were measured for sVEGF and sVEGF-C levels. Potential correlations between their serum levels and clinicopathologic features as well as the commonly adopted risk group stratification profiles of the tumors were analyzed. RESULTS: Preoperative sVEGF and sVEGF-C levels of PTC patients were significantly higher compared with those of control subjects (P = 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). sVEGF-C level was significantly elevated in older patients, those with extrathyroidal invasion and with lymph node metastases whereas sVEGF level was significantly increased in multifocal tumors. sVEGF-C, but not sVEGF, correlated significantly with high risk tumors in all commonly adopted risk group stratification profiles. An elevated preoperative sVEGF-C level of >7200 pg/mL was shown to be the only independent risk factor for nodal metastases. sVEGF-C levels declined significantly at 3 months after thyroidectomy in PTC but not control patients. CONCLUSIONS: sVEGF-C levels in PTC patients correlated significantly with the presence of nodal metastases and advanced tumor stages. Its clinical relevance needs further evaluation.     

Our experience on surgical treatment of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

The papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) is a subtype of the papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) 1 cm or less in diameter, bilateral and multifocal in a percentage of 15-20%. We describe our experience on the surgical treatment of 217 patient treated between 2005 and 2008. Our therapeutic algorithm for PTMC includes always total thyroidectomy with surgical exploration of the median cervical compartment and recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph node dissection, reserving the median lymph node dissection only to the cases with pathological lymph nodes and the lateral compartment lymphectomy to the cases that show suspect nodes with or without positive cytology. We usually perform total thyroidectomy rather than partial one, in relation to the high rate of multifocality of papillary microcarcinoma, to reduce rate of recurrencies and to better utilize I131 with diagnostic and curative aims. Complete central compartment dissection is mandatory when pathological nodes are present at surgical exploration. It prevents nodal recurrencies and decrease number of re-operations, that have a greater number of complications or morbidity, including hypoparathyroidism and inferior laryngeal nerve lesions. The rate of nodal metastases is not affected by the site of primitive tumor, but the tumor size does. The rate of nodal metastases varies from 55.7% for tumors 5 mm or less in diameter, to 73.7% for tumors sized from 5 to 10 mm, and is affected from the capsular infiltration, the presence of multiple foci, and the histological type, i.e. sclerosing type. All patients presenting papillary microcarcinoma with invasion of the capsule and extension to the perithyroid tissues, sclerosing histological type, multifocal and/or metastatic to the regional nodes, were treated with radiometabolic therapy and suppressing l-tiroxin administration, according to the guidelines of the Multidisciplinary Group for the Thyroid Cancer of our Institution.