[Multiple localization and lymphatic involvement of papillary micro-carcinoma of the thyroid. Results of total thyroidectomy with bilateral lymph node excision. Apropos of 38 patients]

Abstract

This study involved 38 patients with occult papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland treated by total thyroidectomy and bilateral prophylactic neck dissection. The histological results show the glandular multicentricity on either side, both in single nodule (65%) and in multinodular goiter (73.3%). High risk of cervical spreading clearly appears in papillary carcinoma (18.4% of the patients) even in these small foci (lower than 10 mm). Topography of involvement brings into prominence two main territories: paratracheal, mid and lower jugularly nodes (involved in 92.8% of the positive dissections).