ANZ journal of surgery
-
ANZ journal of surgery · Apr 2014
Disease outcomes and nodal recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid cancer and lateral neck nodal metastases.
The prognostic influence of lateral neck nodal metastases present at the time of diagnosis of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) remains controversial. This study aims to document disease outcomes and nodal recurrence rates in such patients. ⋯ With total thyroidectomy, formal compartmental neck dissection and radioactive iodine treatment, disease-free survival can be achieved in the majority of patients with PTC and synchronous lateral neck nodal metastases. A persistently elevated Tg post-operatively and a high ratio of metastatic nodes identify patients at increased risk of locoregional recurrence.