Journal
HEAD AND NECK-JOURNAL FOR THE SCIENCES AND SPECIALTIES OF THE HEAD AND NECK
Volume 44, Issue 12, Pages 2796-2802Publisher
WILEY
DOI: 10.1002/hed.27191
Keywords
lymph node metastasis; neck dissection; papillary thyroid carcinoma; thyroid cancer; thyroidectomy
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This study evaluated the incidence and risk factors of occult metastasis to superficial level VI in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. The results showed that lymph nodes were found in approximately 48% of the harvested specimens of superficial level VI. However, the occurrence rate of occult metastasis to superficial level VI was relatively low, suggesting that prophylactic dissection of superficial level VI may not be necessary for primary papillary thyroid carcinoma.
Background This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of occult metastasis to superficial level VI, defined as the space anterior to the strap muscles, including the lymph nodes between the sternocleidomastoid and sternohyoid muscles and suprasternal space lymph nodes. Methods We studied 129 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma who underwent thyroidectomy and neck dissection, including superficial level VI dissection. Results Of the 129 patients, 62 (48%) had lymph nodes in the harvested specimens of superficial level VI, and the mean number of lymph nodes retrieved was 1.9 +/- 1.2. Occult metastasis to superficial level VI occurred in four patients (3.1%). No significant risk factors of superficial level VI occult metastasis were noted in multivariate analysis. Conclusions Occult metastasis to superficial level VI was rare in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Therefore, prophylactic dissection of superficial level VI may not be necessary for primary papillary thyroid carcinoma.
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