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Review
. 2017 May;29(5):283-289.
doi: 10.1016/j.clon.2017.01.001. Epub 2017 Jan 13.

Differentiated and Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Surgical Management of Cervical Lymph Nodes

P Asimakopoulos  1 , I J Nixon  2 , A R Shaha  3
Affiliations
Review

Differentiated and Medullary Thyroid Cancer: Surgical Management of Cervical Lymph Nodes

P Asimakopoulos et al. Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol). 2017 May.

Abstract

Thyroid cancer metastasises to the central and lateral compartments of the neck frequently and early. The impact of nodal metastases on outcome is affected by the histological subtype of the primary tumour and the patient's age, as well as the size, number and location of those metastases. The impact of extranodal extension has recently been highlighted as an important prognosticating factor. Although clinically evident nodal disease in the lateral neck compartments has a significant impact on both survival and recurrence, microscopic metastases to the central or the lateral neck in well-differentiated thyroid cancer do not significantly affect outcome. Here we discuss the surgical management of neck metastases in well-differentiated and medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Keywords: Lymphatic metastasis; surgery; thyroid gland; thyroid neoplasms.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Surgical management of the neck in papillary thyroid cancer.
Fig 2
Fig 2
Surgical management of the neck in medullary thyroid cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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