ObjectiveTo investigate the influencing factors of cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and provide more accurate guidance for the cleaning strategy of PTC cervical lymph node.MethodsRetrospectively analyzed the case data of pathological diagnosis of PTC patients from June 2013 to June 2019 in Xiaogan Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University of Science and Technology, and explored the influencing factors of lymph node metastasis in central region and lymph node metastasis in lateral cervical region.ResultsThe results of multivariate analysis showed that patients aged ≤55 years old, tumor diameter >1 cm, peripheral invasion, bilateral cancer, and multifocal cancer had a higher lymph node metastasis rate in the central region (P<0.05). When the number of risk factors mentioned above was 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6, the lymph node metastasis rate in the central region was respectively: 3.5% (4/113), 25.2% (72/286), 30.0% (70/233), 38.6% (76/197), 52.5% (53/101), 76.9% (20/26), and 100% (13/13). With the increase of the number of risk factors, the lymph node metastasis rate in central region increased (χ2=236.894, P<0.001). In the lymph node metastasis in lateral cervical region, multivariate analysis showed that patients with tumor diameter >1 cm, membranous invasion, and lymph node metastasis in the central region ≥2 had a higher lymph node metastasis rate (P<0.05), while lymph node metastasis in the lateral cervical region was not related to age, gender, peripheral invasion, and multifocal carcinoma (P>0.05). When the cumulative number of risk factors in patients was 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, the lymph node metastasis rate in the lateral cervical region was respectively: 11.1% (1/9), 29.4% (5/17), 79.2% (19/24), 89.6% (43/48), 96.4% (27/28), 100% (21/21), and 100% (3/3). With the increase in the number of risk factors, lymph node metastasis in the lateral cervical region increased (χ2=101.094, P<0.001).ConclusionsThe cervical lymph node metastasis is positively correlated with the number of corresponding risk factors. With the increase of risk factors, cervical lymph node metastasis rate also increases. The number of risk factors provides a simple and intuitive indicator for cervical lymph node metastasis, which is more conducive to the formulation of individualized and accurate surgical program.
Objective To assess clinical value of thyroidectomy by meticulous capsular dissection technique through neck incision approach in treatment of 75 patients with type Ⅰ substernal goiter. Methods The clinical data of 75 patients with type Ⅰ substernal goiter in the Department of General Surgery of the Central Hospital of Xiaogan from April 2013 to April 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. These patients received the surgical resection by the meticulous capsular dissection technique with an ultrasonic scalpel and a bipolar coagulation forcep through neck incision approach. Results There were 12 Hashimoto thyroiditis, 10 thyroid adenoma, 41 nodular goiter, and 12 thyroid carcinoma in the 75 patients with type Ⅰ substernal goiter. Five cases underwent the unilateral total thyroidectomy. Fifty-eight cases underwent the bilateral total thyroidectomy. The bilateral total thyroidectomy plus central lymph node dissection were performed in the 9 patients with thyroid carcinoma, the bilateral total thyroidectomy plus central lymph node dissection plus affected ipsilateral neck lymph node dissection were performed in the 3 patients with thyroid carcinoma. The average operative time was 100 min, the average intraoperative blood loss was 50 mL, the average postoperative hospital stay was 5 d. The rate of parathyroid injury was 2.7% (2/75), the rate of hypocalcemia caused by parathyroid injury was 2.7% (2/75). There were 3 cases (4.0%) of unilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, 1 case (1.3%) of the outer branch of the upper laryngeal nerve injury. There were 2 cases of tracheal partial softening in the 75 patients. None of postoperative bleeding and seroma happened. No death and the tumor recurrence and metastasis of patients happened during follow-up period. Conclusions Preliminary results in this study show that operation of meticulous capsular dissection technique with an ultrasonic scalpel and a bipolar coagulation forcep through neck incision approach in treatment of type Ⅰ substernal goiter is safe and feasible, it could effectively reduce postoperative complications of thyroidectomy, and protect parathyroid and it’s function, recurrent laryngeal nerve, and superior laryngeal nerve.