title: Incidental cervical metastases from thyroid carcinoma during neck dissection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To quantify and discuss the prevalence of unsuspected thyroid lymph node metastases discovered in specimens from neck dissection for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and discuss the impact on patient management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study between May 2004 and January 2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pathological analysis of cervical lymph node dissection performed during surgery for HNSCC in a total of 349 neck dissections in 266 consecutive patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one patients showed metastatic lymph nodes from thyroid cancer (prevalence 7.9%): 13 cases were metastatic from a papillary thyroid carcinoma and 8 cases from a follicular carcinoma. In 5 of the 21 patients, classical dissection was associated to recurrent nerve dissection and unilateral lobectomy; no thyroid carcinoma was found. Thirteen patients received radiotherapy for HNSCC. Follow-up comprised annual ultrasonographic examination of the neck and thyroid in these 21 patients. Total thyroidectomy was decided on in 5, with discovery of 3 micro-papillary thyroid carcinomas, in a single patient (complementary131I treatment). No thyroid carcinomas were found for the other 4 patients. No patients died from thyroid carcinoma during follow-up (mean: 41 months).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of lymph node metastasis from thyroid carcinoma in cervical lymph node dissection during treatment of HNSCC seems higher (7.9%) than rates reported in the literature (0.3 to 1.6%). This may be due to the histopathological methods employed. Management of patients should be discussed in the light of thyroid ultrasonography and prognosis of HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, university Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris VI, hospital Tenon, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 4, rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France. Electronic address: sophie.perie@aphp.fr.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Périé
authors.affiliation: Department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, university Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris VI, hospital Tenon, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 4, rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.affiliation: Department of pathology, university Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris VI, hospital Tenon, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 4, rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lefevre
authors.affiliation: Department of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive medicine - section endocrinology, university Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris VI, hospital Tenon, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 4, rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chabbert-Buffet
authors.affiliation: Department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, university Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris VI, hospital Tenon, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 4, rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Department of otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, university Pierre-et-Marie-Curie-Paris VI, hospital Tenon, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 4, rue de la Chine, 75020 Paris, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lacau St Guily
mesh_terms: D018263:Adenocarcinoma, Follicular / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D033162:Incidental Findings; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D013965:Thyroidectomy
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes
keywords: Cervical lymph node metastasis of thyroid carcinoma; Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; Neck dissection; Papillary thyroid carcinoma