Lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the context of Hashimoto\u2019s thyroiditis

Lirong Wang,Xin Yuan,Lin Zhang,Lei Sun,Jiawen Chen,Juan Wang,Jue Jiang,Min Liu,Qi Zhou

doi:10.1186/s12902-021-00923-2

Abstract

BackgroundWhether Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) affects the lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains uncertain. The diagnostic criteria for HT differed in previous studies. Our study focused on analysing the influence of HT on PTC lymph node metastasis (LNM) with stringent diagnostic criteria for HT.MethodsA total of 444 patients diagnosed with PTC from 2019 to 2020 were enrolled and divided into two groups: HT group and non-HT group. Diagnostic criteria of HT were as follows: thyroid peroxidase antibody (+) and postoperative histopathology of Hashimoto’s disease.ResultsThere was no significant difference in the LNM rate between HT group and non-HT group. Patients in the HT group had fewer numbers of metastatic LNs and lower metastatic LNs ratio in central region. In the HT group, age < 55 and tumor size ≥10 mm were independent risk factors for central LNM.ConclusionThe autoimmune response of HT seems to reduce the central lymph node metastasis of HT PTCs. Age < 55 and tumor size ≥10 mm were independent risk factors of central lymph node metastasis in HT PTCs.

Highlights

The incidence of thyroid cancer has continued to rise for decades
Others believe that Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) have a low lymph node metastasis (LNM) rate and a better prognosis [14, 15]
Patients with a postoperative pathological diagnosis of PTC were divided into two groups: those with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT group) and those without Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Summary

Introduction

The incidence of thyroid cancer has continued to rise for decades. As of 2018, thyroid cancer ranked ninth among all cancers in the world [1]. The most common pathologic subtype is papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) [2], which is always associated with favorable overall survival rate. The recurrence rate of PTC ranges from 20 to 40% [6], affecting patients’ disease-free survival. Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) is a major thyroid autoimmune disease [9]. Some consider positive thyroid autoantibodies to be risk factors for cervical LNM in PTC [12, 13]. The association between HT and LNM in PTC remains. Whether Hashimoto’s thyroiditis (HT) affects the lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remains uncertain. Our study focused on analysing the influence of HT on PTC lymph node metastasis (LNM) with stringent diagnostic criteria for HT

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion