Central compartment lymph node metastasis in cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma

Abstract

Objective To evaluate central compartment lymph node metastasis in cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma（PTC） patients. Methods The clinical data of 166 cN0 PTC patients was retrospectively analyzed. Results The central compartment lymph node metastasis rate of age 〈 45 years group was higher than the group of age≥45 years（39% vs. 22% ,P 〈0. 05）. Tumor size 〉0. 5 em tends to metastasize more often than tumor size ≤0. 5 cm （P 〈 0. 05 ） ; there was significantly difference in central compartment lymph node metastasis rate between upper pole tumor （25%, 12/48 ） and middle （45%, 13/29 ）or lower pole （43% ,31/72）, P 〈 0. 01. Conclusions eN0 PTC patients with tumor located in middle pole or lower pole ,tumor size 〉 0. 5 cm or age 〈 45 years are at higher risks for central compartment lymph node metastasis. Key words: Thyroid neoplasms ; Carcinoma, papillary; Lymphatic metastasis ; Neck dissection