Analysis Of Lymph Node Metastasis Factors In Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma

Background and Objectives:Despite the overall excellent prognosis for patients with thyroid papillary microcarcinoma (PTMC), these tumors are associated with lymph node metastasis. The aim of this study is to identify the rate of lymph node metastasis and evaluate the clinical and pathological factors affecting metastasis in PTMC and to evaluate the significance of the selective neck dissection.Method:Among 277 patients with thyroid carcinoma treated between January 2005 and December 2008 in our department,81 patients (29.24%) were diagnosed as PTMC. Among these 81 PTMC patients 68 received a selective neck dissection (Group1) and the clinicopathologic features of these patients were evaluated by univariate and multivariate analyses retrospectively, while the residual 13 patients were not (Group 2).Result:In Group 1,23 patients were found with cervical lymph node metastasis. The incidence of lymph node metastasis was 33.82% (23/68). Thyroid capsular invasion were found to be the independent risk factor for lymph node metastasis by multivariate analysis. All patients were followed up from 1 to 5 years (mean 37.6 months). No patient relapsed or died, and no one was found with distant metastasis.Conclusion:The PTMC has a high tendency to metastasize. The lobectomy supplemented with level VI dissection is safe for the patients with PTMC, and it is more significant to perform selective neck dissection in tumors with capsule invasion.