Risk factors for central lymph node metastasis of patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the risk factors of central lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma.


METHODS
Published articles about papillary thyroid microcarcinoma were searched in PubMed, MEDLINE and EMBASE until October 2013 to examine the risky factors of central lymph node metastasis. Software RevMan 5.0 was used for meta-analysis.


RESULTS
Within the patients suffering papillary thyroid microcarcinoma underwent thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection, tumor size, multifocality and capsular invasion have statistically relevant association with central lymph node metastasis, but no relation was observed associated with sex and age.


CONCLUSIONS
The papillary thyroid microcarcinoma should be considered central lymph node metastasis when tumor size ≥0.5 cm, multifocality and have capsular invasion.
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College Wuhan, China.
Zeming
Z
Liu
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College Wuhan, China.
Longqiang
L
Wang
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College Wuhan, China.
Pengfei
P
Yi
The Center for Biomedical Research, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology Wuhan 430022, Hubei Province, China.
Cong-Yi
CY
Wang
Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College Wuhan, China.
Tao
T
Huang
D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
Risk factors; central lymph node metastasis; papillary thyroid carcinoma