The value of region VI lymph nodes in the surgical treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma

Objective To evaluate the value of region Ⅵ lymph nodes in surgical treatment of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma(PTC). Methods 98 cases of PTC with cN0 which received functional lymph nodes dissection were collected. We analyzed the results of pathologic examination by region Ⅵ lymph nodes distinguished from lateral neck lymph nodes(Ⅱ～Ⅴ) retrospectively. Results In 98 cases, the rate of region Ⅵ lymph nodes metastasis was 20.4 %(20 cases); the rate of region Ⅱ～Ⅴ lymph nodes metastasis was 13 cases(13.3 %). In cases with region Ⅵ lymph nodes metastasis, the rate of Ⅱ～Ⅴ lymph nodes metastasis was 45.0 %(9/20). Meanwhile in cases without region Ⅵ lymph nodes metastasis, the rate of Ⅱ～Ⅴ lymph nodes metastasis was 5.1 % (4/78, P 0.01). Conclusions It is necessary that region Ⅵ lymph nodes distinguished from Ⅱ～Ⅴlymph nodes. To dissect and have pathological examination of the region Ⅵ lymph nodes during the operation is important for patients of PTC with cN0.