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. 2011 Jan 11:11:8.
doi: 10.1186/1471-2407-11-8.

Pattern of lateral neck metastases in N0 papillary thyroid carcinoma

Vincent Patron  1 , Cécile Bedfert, Guy Le Clech, Karine Aubry, Franck Jegoux
Affiliations

Pattern of lateral neck metastases in N0 papillary thyroid carcinoma

Vincent Patron et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Indication and extent of lateral prophylactic neck dissection (PLND) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is very controversial.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed 131 patients who underwent thyroidectomy and prophylactic lateral neck dissection from level II to V for PTC.

Results: 140 PLND were performed. The occult lymph node metastases (OLNM) overall rate was 18.6%. The incidence of node involvement was 10% at level III and 6.4% at level IIa. Level IV and level Vb were both concerned by 5.7% OLNM. Only 2.9% of level IIb contained OLNM. None of the level Va ND revealed OLNM.

Conclusions: OLNM from PTC occurs commonly in level IIa, III, IV and Vb. Incidence in other levels is low. For surgeons that usually perform PLND, we believe that a selective neck dissection of levels IIa, III, IV and Vb in N0 neck PTC is sufficient for the clearance of occult metastases.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of metastases by level (numbers in parentheses indicate number of ND specimens with OLNM/total number of ND specimens).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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