Pattern and Risk Factors of Central Compartment Lymph Node Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer : A Prospective Study from an Endocrine Surgery Centre

Abstract EN

Lymphatic metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is eminent; however, the extent of central compartment lymph nodes dissection (CCD) is controversial and requires the knowledge of pattern and risk factors for central compartment lymph nodes metastasis (CCM).

We did a prospective study of 47 cases with PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy (TT) with CCD with/without lateral lymph nodes dissection (LND).

Clinicopathological profile including CCM as ipsilateral and contralateral was documented.

On histopathology, the mean tumour size was 3.57±2.42 cm 59.6% had CCM, which was bilateral in the majority (60.72%).

The tumour-size was the most important predictor for lymph nodes metastasis-(P=0.018) whereas multicentricity-(P=0.002) and ipsilateral CCM-(P=0.001) were the predictors for contralateral CCM.

The long-term morbidity of CCD done in primary setting is comparable with TT-alone.

Bilateral CCD should be done with thyroidectomy in PTC, otherwise the risk of residual diseases and subsequent recurrence is high.

The long-term morbidity is comparable in experienced hands.