Factors affecting the adequacy of lymph node yield in prophylactic unilateral central neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Determinants for adequate lymph node yield (LNY) in prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remain unclear. We aimed to determine factors affecting LNY in pCND.


METHODS
Of 230 patients, 109 (47.4%) had total thyroidectomy and unilateral pCND. A specimen of ≥ 6 central lymph nodes (CLNs) was considered adequate. Factors such as patient clinicopathologic features, specimen dimensions, and pathologists' experience were compared between those with LNY  <  6 (n = 52) and LNY  ≥  6 (n  =  57). A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify independent factors for LNY ≥  6.


RESULTS
Age, sex, presentation, body mass index, tumor characteristics, TNM stages, MACIS score, and pathologist's experience were not significant determinants for LNY  ≥  6. In the univariate analysis, the length (P  =  0.021), width (P  = 0.047), thickness (P  =  0.024), and pN1a (P  =  0.042) were significant determinants but in the multivariate analysis, the length (OR  =  1.486 (95% CI: 1.053-2.097), P  =  0.024) was the only independent factor for LNY  ≥  6. Postoperative vocal cord palsy, hypoparathyroidism, stimulated thyroglobulin and recurrences were similar between LNY <6 and ≥ 6.


CONCLUSIONS
Length (or the longest measured dimension) of the fresh CLN specimen was the only factor assuring LNY ≥ 6. Surgical complications and short-term outcomes appeared similar between LNY <6 or ≥ 6.
Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. blang@hkucc.hku.hk
Brian Hung-Hin
BH
Lang
Patricia Chun-Ling
PC
Yih
Tony W-H
TW
Shek
Koon Yat
KY
Wan
Kai Pun
KP
Wong
Chung-Yau
CY
Lo
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult