Factors predicting contralateral nodal spread in papillary carcinoma of thyroid.

Abstract

Background\nLymph node metastasis (LNM) is evident in about 20-50% of cases at presentation in papillary carcinoma thyroid (PTC). There are no clear recommendations for the need and extent of lateral and central compartment dissection in PTC.\n\n\nMethods\nA total of 83 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and bilateral selective neck dissection for diagnosed PTC from September 2011 to October 2017 were retrospectively analyzed.\n\n\nResults\nTumor site was bilobar or involving isthmus in 40 patients. Contralateral LNM was seen in 42 patients. Both radiological (median size 2.6 cm, P = 0.051) and pathological (median size 3.65 cm, P = 0.015) size of tumor, tumor involving isthmus or bilateral lobes (P = 0.006), and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (P = 0.026) had significant correlation with contralateral LNM.\n\n\nConclusion\nSize and site of tumor, ipsilateral lateral compartment nodes involvement, and LVI status of tumor significantly increases the probability of contralateral LNM in patients of PTC.