Primary tumour characteristics predict the invasiveness of lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients.

Abstract

This study evaluated whether primary tumour characteristics are associated with specific features of metastatic lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma patients. A retrospective review of 411 patients with pathologically diagnosed cervical lymph node metastasis was conducted. A metastatic lymph node focus size of at least 2mm was independently associated with a primary tumour size of at least 1cm (hazard ratio 1.962) and with male sex (hazard ratio 1.947). A number of at least five lymph node metastases was independently associated with a primary tumour size of at least 1cm (hazard ratio 2.863), extrathyroidal extension (hazard ratio 1.737) and male sex (hazard ratio 1.689). Extranodal extension was independently associated with a primary tumour size of at least 1cm (hazard ratio 2.288), extrathyroidal extension (2.201) and male sex (hazard ratio 1.733). Primary papillary thyroid carcinoma characteristics are related to the pathological features of lymph node metastases.