Neck circumference correlates with tumor size and lateral lymph node metastasis in men with small papillary thyroid carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is correlated with numerous diseases, including thyroid cancer, but the clinical significance of obesity with regard to the clinical characteristics of thyroid cancer remains unclear. Neck circumference is an index of upper-body adipose tissue distribution.


METHODS
In total, 401 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) measuring ≤ 2 cm were included. Neck circumference was measured horizontally at the level just below the thyroid cartilage on preoperative neck computed tomographic images.


RESULTS
Neck circumference correlated significantly with tumor size in men (p = 0.001) but not in women (p = 0.930). Body mass index (BMI) did not significantly correlate with tumor size in either sex. Neck circumference was significantly larger in men with lateral lymph node (LN) metastasis than in those without (p = 0.004). Neck circumference and BMI did not differ significantly in women according to other factors such as tumor size, multifocality, extrathyroid extension, and LN metastasis. Tumor size and the prevalence of lateral LN metastasis in men tended to increase in the middle/large neck circumference subgroup compared with those in the low neck circumference subgroup. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that neck circumference (p = 0.009) was a predictor for the presence of lateral LN metastasis in men. BMI was not a predictive factor for lateral LN involvement in either sex.


CONCLUSIONS
Neck circumference, an indicator of central or visceral obesity but not BMI, may be associated with some prognostic factors in men with small PTC.
Kim Yong Ki Internal Medicine Clinic, Busan, Korea.
Mi Ra
MR
Kim
Sang Soo
SS
Kim
Jung Eun
JE
Huh
Byung Joo
BJ
Lee
Jin Choon
JC
Lee
Yun Kyung
YK
Jeon
Bo Hyun
BH
Kim
Seong Jang
SJ
Kim
Soo Geun
SG
Wang
Yong Ki
YK
Kim
In Joo
IJ
Kim
D050154:Adiposity; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009333:Neck / Q000473:pathology*; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D047368:Tumor Burden; D055815:Young Adult
Body mass index; Neck circumference; Obesity; Papillary thyroid carcinoma