Surgical management of cervical lymph nodes in differentiated thyroid cancer.
Well-differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) carries an excellent prognosis. Although long-term survival rates are high, regional lymph node metastases are common. Surgical management of cervical lymph nodes is integral to the comprehensive treatment of DTC, but data from large randomized trials do not exist to define optimal treatment. Therapy is thus guided by observational data, and founded on an understanding of the behavior of lymphatic metastases in DTC. This article focuses on the significance of lymph node metastases in thyroid cancer, and the strategy for surgical management.
Fritze
Danielle
D
Department of Surgery, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
Doherty
Gerard M
GM
D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D018426:SEER Program; D015996:Survival Rate; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods