Objective To analyze the expressions of galectin-3， human bone marrow endothelial cell-1 （HBME-1），cytokeratin （CK）19， and RET in benign and malignant thyroid tumor and to discuss their clinical significances. Methods The clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical staining data of 131 patients with benign and malignant thyroid tumor were analyzed retrospectively， including 45 patients with malignant thyroid tumor， 86 patients with benign thyroidtumor. The expressions of galectin-3， HBME-1， CK19， and RET in the benign and malignant thyroid tumor were detectedby immunohistochemical staining. Results The positive expression rates of the galectin-3， HBME-1， CK19， and RET in the malignant thyroid tumor were 97.8% （44/45）， 88.9% （40/45）， 100% （45/45）， and 71.1% （32/45）， respectively，which in the benign thyroid tumor were 9.3% （8/86）， 12.8% （11/86）， 37.2% （32/86）， and 8.1% （7/86）， respectively， the differences were statistically significant （P＜0.05）. The diagnostic sensitivity， specificity， and accordance rates were 97.8 %， 90.7%， and 93.1% for the galectin-3， respectively；88.9%， 87.2%， and 87.8% for the HBME-1， respec-tively；100%， 62.8%， and 75.6% for the CK19， respectively；71.1%， 91.9%， and 84.7% for the RET， respectively. Conclusions The expression levels of galectin-3， HBME-1， CK19， and RET in malignant thyroid tumor are significantly higher than those in benign thyroid tumor. Galectin-3， HBME-1， CK19， and RET can be important factors for identifying the benign and malignant tumor and their biological behaviors. Galectin-3 has a high reference value in the diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma.
Objective To explore the pattern and clinical influencing factors of cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma （PTC）， and provide a basis for the choice of surgical approach for the PTC neck lymph node processing. Methods The clinical data of 98 patients with PTC treated in Affiliated Hospital of Guiyang Medical College from Jan. 2009 to Dec. 2011 were collected， and the pattern and clinical influencing factors of cervical lymph node metastasis were analyzed. Results Ninety eight consecutive patients underwent neck dissection in a total of 114 sides. The lymph node metastasis rate of cervical lymph node， districtⅥ， districtⅡ＋Ⅲ＋Ⅳ， and districtⅤwas 77.55% （76/98）， 74.49% （73/98）， 42.86% （42/98）， and 5.10% （5/98）， respectively. Results of univariate analysis showed that lymph node metastasis rates were higher in patients with diameter of tumor greater than 1 cm， tumor invaded thyroid capsule， multi-focal tumor， and old than 45 years （P＜0.05）. Results of multivariate analysis showed that the age of patients， diameter of tumor， tumor invaded thyroid capsule， and multifocal tumor were independent risk factors of cervical lymph node metastasis （P＜0.05）. Tumor invaded thyroid capsule， multifocal tumor， combined with districtⅥmetastasis， and combined with districtⅡ＋Ⅲ＋Ⅳ metastasis were independent risk factors of prelaryngeal lymph node metastasis （P＜0.05）. Tumor invaded thyroid capsule and multifocal tumor were independent risk factors of skip lymph node metastasis （P＜0.05）. Conclusions DistrictⅥ is found to be the predominant site for lymph node metastasis of PTC， the districtⅢ and the districtⅣinvolved in addition， so it is necessary to clean lymph nodes at districtⅥ routinely. The regularity of cervical lymph node metastasis can provide the basis for surgeon to choose a reasonable type of neck dissection.