ObjectiveTo study the regularity of cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma and a reasonable surgical method. MethodsThe clinical data of 221 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma treated in this hospital between September 2004 and September 2009 were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThere were 32 cases treated with total thyroidectomy, 189 patients with subtotal thyroidectomy. Two hundred and two patients with unilateral thyroid carcinoma and 19 patients with bilateral thyroid carcinoma were diagnosed by pathology. The diameter of tumor was 0.2-8.0 cm with an average of 3.5 cm. The amicula invasion was found in 50 cases and mulifocality in 33 cases. The numbers of lymph node dissection were 10-24 with an average of 14.3 in unilateral. The total lymph node metastasis rate was 37.56% (83/221), the lymph node metastasis rate was 33.94% (75/221) in the Ⅵ region, and which was 18.10% (40/221) in the Ⅱ+Ⅲ+Ⅳ region. The rate of cervical lymph node metastasis markedly increased in the patients with the primary tumor diameter gt;1.0 cm, amicula invasion, multifocality, or age gt;45 years in the Ⅵ region and ipsilateral of Ⅱ+Ⅲ+Ⅳ region (Plt;0.05). ConclusionsIn patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma, the most common lymph node metastasis happened in the Ⅵ region, next in the Ⅱ+Ⅲ+Ⅳ region. Lymph nodes of the Ⅵ region should routinely be dissected in the first surgery, the lymph nodes of the Ⅱ+Ⅲ+Ⅳ region should be dissected when the tumor diameter gt;1.0 cm, amicula invasion, multifocality or ultrasonic, CT, and other imaging examinations demonstrated cervical lymph node metastasis.
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.