The significance of central region lymph nodes dissection for differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Objective To explore the rule of central region lymph nodes metastasis in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) and the significance of central region lymph nodes neck dissection in surgical operation for DTC.Methods The clinical and pathological data of 122 lymph nodes in 109 patients (31 female and 78 male) with DTC undergoing neck lymph nodes ( central region lymph nodes included) dissection from Jan.2003 to Jun.2007 in our hospital were analyzed retrospectively.According to preoperative physical examination and imaging analysis,patients were divided into clinical cervical lymph nodes metastasis ( cN + ) group and clinical no cervical lymph nodes metastasis (cNO) group and compared respectively with their pathological data after surgery.Resuits Of the 122 lymph nodes,lymph node metastasis rate was significantly higher in region Ⅵ than in region Ⅱ,Ⅲ and Ⅳ.The difference had statistical significance (P ＜0.01 ).65.6％ (80/122) metastasis was in the central region.81.2％ (56/69) patients in cN + group and 45.3％ (24/53) patients in cN0 group had central region lymph nodes metastasis.Conclusions Central region lymph nodes metastasis is common for patients with DTC.Routine neck dissection in central region should be done in DTC operation. Key words: Differentiated thyroid carcinoma; Lymphatic metastasis; Neck dissection