{"title":"Determining the Minimum Number of Examined Lymph Nodes for N1b Papillary Thyroid Cancer Patients.","authors":"Liu Xiao, Wei Zhang, Yu Ma, Lin Li, Bin Liu","doi":"10.1002/lary.32067","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the number of examined lymph nodes (eLNs) and postoperative residual lateral LN disease in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and lateral nodal metastasis (N1b) and determine the minimal threshold for the eLNs.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Patients diagnosed with unilateral N1b PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy with therapeutic LN dissection of the central and lateral compartments between January 2012 and December 2022 were included. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the threshold number of eLNs that independently influenced the risk of residual lateral LN disease.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Residual lateral LN disease was identified in 56 (5.4%) of 1042 T1-2 patients and 74 (12.3%) of 602 T3-4 patients. When analyzed as a continuous variable, the number of eLNs in the lateral neck was independently associated with a reduced risk of residual lateral LN disease in both T1-2 (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.90-0.97; p < 0.001) and T3-4 patients (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.97; p < 0.001). As a categorical variable, the risk of residual lateral LN disease continued to decrease significantly until the number of eLNs reached 34 in T1-2 patients and 46 in T3-4 patients.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Comprehensive preoperative imaging for LN status and systematic compartmental dissection of the affected levels are critical in managing N1b PTC. To minimize the risk of residual lateral LN disease, the minimum recommended number of eLNs in the lateral neck is 34 for T1-2 patients and 46 for T3-4 patients.</p><p><strong>Level of evidence: </strong>4-retrospective cohort study.</p>","PeriodicalId":49921,"journal":{"name":"Laryngoscope","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Laryngoscope","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1002/lary.32067","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q3","JCRName":"MEDICINE, RESEARCH & EXPERIMENTAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between the number of examined lymph nodes (eLNs) and postoperative residual lateral LN disease in patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and lateral nodal metastasis (N1b) and determine the minimal threshold for the eLNs.
Methods: Patients diagnosed with unilateral N1b PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy with therapeutic LN dissection of the central and lateral compartments between January 2012 and December 2022 were included. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify the threshold number of eLNs that independently influenced the risk of residual lateral LN disease.
Results: Residual lateral LN disease was identified in 56 (5.4%) of 1042 T1-2 patients and 74 (12.3%) of 602 T3-4 patients. When analyzed as a continuous variable, the number of eLNs in the lateral neck was independently associated with a reduced risk of residual lateral LN disease in both T1-2 (OR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.90-0.97; p < 0.001) and T3-4 patients (OR: 0.94; 95% CI: 0.91-0.97; p < 0.001). As a categorical variable, the risk of residual lateral LN disease continued to decrease significantly until the number of eLNs reached 34 in T1-2 patients and 46 in T3-4 patients.
Conclusion: Comprehensive preoperative imaging for LN status and systematic compartmental dissection of the affected levels are critical in managing N1b PTC. To minimize the risk of residual lateral LN disease, the minimum recommended number of eLNs in the lateral neck is 34 for T1-2 patients and 46 for T3-4 patients.
期刊介绍:
The Laryngoscope has been the leading source of information on advances in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck disorders since 1890. The Laryngoscope is the first choice among otolaryngologists for publication of their important findings and techniques. Each monthly issue of The Laryngoscope features peer-reviewed medical, clinical, and research contributions in general otolaryngology, allergy/rhinology, otology/neurotology, laryngology/bronchoesophagology, head and neck surgery, sleep medicine, pediatric otolaryngology, facial plastics and reconstructive surgery, oncology, and communicative disorders. Contributions include papers and posters presented at the Annual and Section Meetings of the Triological Society, as well as independent papers, "How I Do It", "Triological Best Practice" articles, and contemporary reviews. Theses authored by the Triological Society’s new Fellows as well as papers presented at meetings of the American Laryngological Association are published in The Laryngoscope.
• Broncho-esophagology
• Communicative disorders
• Head and neck surgery
• Plastic and reconstructive facial surgery
• Oncology
• Speech and hearing defects