title: Nodal status of central lymph nodes as a negative prognostic factor for papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The status of metastatic lymph nodes, including the size and extracapsular spread (ECS), in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) has not been well established. This study evaluated the correlation between the specific status of central lymph node metastases (CLNM) and negative prognostic factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed 243 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and neck dissection. The CLNM slides were reviewed and the relationship between the CLNM status and risk factors was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CLNM were found in 111 patients. ECS (+) was related to a large tumor, high number of CLNM, and large node (P < 0.05). Tumor size and number of CLNM were related to the ECS rate (OR = 3.861 and 2.491, respectively; P < 0.01) in a multivariate analysis. Large nodes (≥ 6 mm) were related to large tumor size, extrathyroidal extension, number of CLNM, and lateral cervical lymph node metastasis (LNM). Tumor size and LNM (OR = 4.519 and 7.811, respectively; P < 0.05) were related to large nodes in a multivariate analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECS was related to node size, tumor size, and number of CLNM. Node size was related to tumor size and LNM. Thus, specific nodal status is a possible prognostic factor for PTC.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Research Institute for Convergence of Biomedical Science and Technology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yoon Se
authors: YS
authors: Lee
authors: Yun-Sung
authors: YS
authors: Lim
authors: Jin-Choon
authors: JC
authors: Lee
authors: Soo-Geun
authors: SG
authors: Wang
authors: In-Ju
authors: IJ
authors: Kim
authors: Seok-Man
authors: SM
authors: Son
authors: Dong Hoon
authors: DH
authors: Shin
authors: Byung-Joo
authors: BJ
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods