Discussion on the necessity of Delphian lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma / 中华内分泌外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical significance of Delphian lymph node (DLN) dissection in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) .Methods:The correlation of DLN detection and metastasis in 208 PTC patients with various clinical and pathological features was analyzed retrospectively. The value of DLN metastasis in predicting PTC high-risk features was evaluated, and the tendency of surgical selection for PTC with DLN metastasis was also discussed.Results:① Of 208 PTC patients, DLN was detected in 144 patients (69.23%) . The detection rate of DLN was related to gender, number of central lymph nodes (excluding DLN) removed and metastasis (all P<0.05) . Male, greater number of nodes in the central compartment (excluding DLN) was more favorable for DLN detection. ② The rate of DLN metastasis was 18.27% (38/208) . In the univariate analysis, DLN metastasis was significantly associated with the following variablesgender, whether it is microcarcinoma, isthmus involvement, number of lesions, extrathyroidal extension, tumor size, number of central lymph nodes (excluding DLN) removed and metastasis (all P<0.05) . In the multivariate analysis, tumor size larger than 1 cm, isthmus involvement and greater number of central lymph nodes (excluding DLN) metastasis were independent risk factors of DLN metastasis ( P<0.05) . ③ The sensitivity of DLN metastasis to predict extranodal invasion, central and lateral lymph node metastasis was 54.54%, 37.36% and 62.86%, with specificity of 78.69%, 92.45% and 55.56%, respectively. ④ Patients with DLN metastasis were more likely to receive total thyroidectomy, bilateral central lymph node dissection, and lateral cervical lymph node dissection. Conclusions:Due to high rate of DLN detected and metastasis, DLN should be routinely dissected. Patients with DLN metastasis predict high risk characteristics of PTC and extensive lymph node metastasis, which is of clinical significance for lymph node dissection.