ObjectiveTo investigate the value of central lymph node dissection in patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodThe clinical data of 128 patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma who had been performed central lymph node dissection during their hospitalization from December 2010 to July 2012 in Chinese PLA General Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThe central neck lymph node metastasis rate was 35.94%(46/128) in 128 patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, which in the patients with aged less than 45 years, with the tumor diameter larger than 1 cm, and with capsule or extrathyroidal invasion were significantly higher than those in the patients with aged larger than 45 years, with the tumor diameter less than 1 cm, and without capsule or extrathyroidal invasion (P < 0.05). After the operation, there were 22(17.19%) patients with temporary hypoparathyroidism as well as 3(2.34%) patients with temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. However, no permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury and permanent hypoparathyroidism occurred. During the 14-32 months follow-up with an average 23.4 months, 2 cases of lateral neck lymph node metastases were observed. ConclusionAs an essential, effective, and safe operation to the patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, central lymph node dissection should be performed by experienced hands.
Objective To assess the applied significance of carbon nanoparticles in central compartment lymph node dissection in treatment of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods Sixty-eight patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma who were treated in Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College from May. to Oct. in 2012 were randomly allocated to the control group （n=32） and the carbon nanoparticles trace group （tracer group， n=36）， receiving non-carbon nanoparticles trace and carbon nanoparticles trace respectively. All patients were received total resection of thyroid plus the affected side and （or） contralateral side central compartment lymph node dissection. The lymph node-related indexes（including number of dissected lymph node at Ⅵarea and lymph node metastasis rate at Ⅵarea） and operative indexs （including operation time， blood loss， drainage time， complication， and hospital stay） were collected and compared between the 2 groups. Results There were 205 and 324 dissected lymph node at central compartment in control group and tracer group respectively. The results of postoperative pathology showed that the number of lymph node in central compartment of the tracer group was much more than those of control group （8.99±2.24 vs. 6.41±1.56， P＜0.001）. The metastasis rate of central compartment lymph node were 40.6% （13/32） in control group and 47.2% （17/36） in tracer group， but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups （P=0.762）. But in medial area of laryngeal recurrent nerve， the metastasis rate in the tracer group （38.9%， 14/36） was much higher than those of control group （12.5%， 4/32）， P=0.029. There were no significant differences in the operation time， blood loss， drainage time， hospital stay， and complication incidence such as bleeding， temporary hypocalcemia， and injury of superior laryngeal nerve between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. All the patients in 2 groups had followed-up for 6 months without death， recurrence， and metastasis.Conclusions The lymphatic tracer technique of carbon nanoparticles may improve the number of dissected lymph nodes in central region of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma， without increasing （or prolonging） operation time， intraoperative blood loss， and postoperative hospital stay， and can accurately represent the metastasis of lymph node， thus to make the staging of the tumor accurately and guide postoperative treatment.
ObjectiveTo analyze the relevant factors of levelⅡlymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carci-noma. MethodsThe clinicopathologic data of 83 patients from November 2011 to March 2014 were analyzed retrospec-tively. All the primary tumors were papillary thyroid carcinoma located in unilateral lobe with ipsilateral lateral neck lymph node metastasis. The relationship of gender, age, microcarcinoma, superior pole involved by carcinoma, integrated tumor capsule, or extranodal invasion to levelⅡlymph node metastasis was analyzed. The calculated data were analyzed with Chi-Square test and there was significant difference when P < 0.05. ResultsThe rate of lymph node metastasis at levelⅡ, Ⅲ, Ⅳ, Ⅴ, Ⅵwas 51.8% (43/83), 78.3% (65/83), 71.7% (59/83), 4.8% (4/56), and 79.5% (66/83), respectively. There was no significant relationship of gender, age, microcarcinoma, integrated tumor capsule, or extranodal invasion to levelⅡlymph node metastasis (P > 0.05). The rate of lymph node metastasis at levelⅡwas significantly higher when superior pole involved by carcinoma (P < 0.05). ConclusionAmong the patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma, when superior pole involved by carcinoma the patient should be underwent selective neck dissection, the proper extent of dissection including levelⅡshould be performed.
ObjectiveTo investigate the expressions of Snail and N-cadherin protein in thyroid papillary carcinoma (PTC) tissues and cell lines, and then discuss the clinical value of Snail and N-cadherin expressions. MethodsImmunohis-tochemical SP technique was performed to detect the expressions of Snail and N-cadherin protein in 60 cases of PTC, and the relation between the expression of Snail or N-cadherin and clinicopathologic indicators was analyzed. Western blot was used to investigate the constitutive and inducible expressions of Snail and N-cadherin protein. Results①The positive rates of Snail and N-cadherin protein expressions were 85.0% (51/60) and 78.3% (47/60) respectively in the PTC tissues of 60 patients with PTC, which were significantly higher than those (0, 0, respectively) in the corresponding normal tissues adjacent to the cancer (P < 0.01).②The positive rates of Snail and N-cadherin protein expressions in the PTC with lymph node metastasis were significantly higher than those in the PTC without lymph node metastasis (P < 0.01), which were not related with the gender, age, tumor size of the patients (P > 0.01).③There was a positive correlation between Snail and N-cadherin protein positive expression (rs=0.721, P < 0.001).④The constitutive and inducible expressions of Snail and N-cadherin in the PTC tissues and cell lines further were identified by Western blot. ConclusionsSnail and N-cadherin could constitutively express in PTC, which might play important roles in the development and metastasis of PTC. Snail and N-cadherin might be used as effective indicators.
ObjectiveTo study the expressions of BRAF gene in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) >1 cm in diameter, and the invasiveness of PTMC and PTC. MethodsThe data of 275 patients with PTC received surgical treatment and with BRAF gene mutation results in West China Hospital of Sichuan University from 2011 September to 2013 September were retrospectively analyzed. According to the size of tumors, the patients were divided into three groups, was the diameter <1 cm group, 1 cm< diameter≤2 cm group, and diameter >2 cm group,respectively. The ratio of BRAF gene mutation, and the degree of risk of extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis were compared. ResultsUnivariate analysis showed that tumor size was not related with the age, gender, and BRAF gene mutation rate (P>0.05), while the tumor size was related with the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05), and the ratio of BRAF gene mutation was related with the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that tumor size was associated with extrathyroidal extension (P=0.009) and lymph node metastasis (P=0.000). ConclusionsBRAF gene mutation can increase the extrathyroidal invasion and lymph node metastasis risk of PTC, and it is no significantly correlated with tumor size of PTC. The invasiveness of PTC increases with the increased of tumor size, but the PTMC of BRAF gene mutation positive is still require positive treatment.
Objective To study the expressions and clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinases-2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods SP immunohistochemical technique was used to detect the expressions of MMP-2 and VEGF-C in 78 cases of PTC and 18 cases of thyroid benign tumors.Results The positive expression rates of MMP-2 and VEGF-C in PTC （80.77%, 75.64%） were significantly higher than those of the thyroid benign tumor （11.11%, 22.22%）, P＜0.05. The expressions of MMP-2 and VEGF-C were correlated to the degree of infiltration and lymph node metastasis in PTC: In those which infiltrated to or over the thyroid capsular, or had clinical neck lymph node metastasis, the positive expression rates were significantly higher than those in the other cases which had confined invasion of thyroid capsular or non-clinical metastasis of neck lymph node (P＜0.05). And during the follow-up of 41 patients who didn’t have clinical neck lymph node metastasis before operation, the positive expression rates of those who had clinical neck lymph node metastasis were significantly higher than those in the other patients who didn’t have neck lymph node metastasis (P＜0.05). There was significantly positive correlation between the expressions of MMP-2 and VEGF-C in PTC （Gamma=0.846， P＜0.05）. Conclusions MMP-2 and VEGF-C may be used to distinguish malignant and benign thyroid tumor; The expressions of MMP-2 and VEGF-C are correlated with the degree of infiltration and neck lymph node metastasis in PTC; Combined detection of MMP-2 and VEGF-C will be more accurate to predict condition of lymph node metastasis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the structure, ligand, and tissue distribution of galectin-3, the relationship of galectin3 with tumor and the expression of galectin-3 in several thyroid diseases. MethodsRelated articles were reviewed. ResultsGalectin-3 was expressed in normal and tumor cell that regulated cell growth, differentiation, adhesion, apoptosis, and angiogenesis, which participated invasion and metastasis of tumor. ConclusionGalectin-3 may be used to discriminate benign and malignant thyroid tumor.
Objective To summarize the relationship between IgG4 and IgG4 related thyroid diseases. Methods Domestic and international publications involving the pathological features of IgG4-related thyroid diseases and relationship with IgG4 were retrieved and reviewed. Results IgG4-related disease was a newly recognized class of chronic and systemic lymphocytes disease， which may be solitary or involving multiple body organs， as well as thyroid. The expression of IgG4 was found in leisons of Hashimoto thyroiditis， Riedel thyroiditis， and papillary thyroid carcinoma. Conclusions IgG4-related thyroid disease is a new concept of thyroiditis. The knowledge of this new disease will provide appropriate treatment for patients with thyroiditis.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical value of elective central compartment lymph node dissection for cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodThe clinical data of 326 patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma from January 2007 to December 2011 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. ResultsThe lymph node metastasis incidence was 35.89%(117/326) in 326 patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, which in the patients with age < 45 years, tumor diameter > 1 cm, and thyroidal tumor infiltrated envelope were significantly higher than those in the pati-ents with age≥45 years, tumor diameter≤1 cm, and thyroidal tumor not-infiltrated envelope (age:46.56% versus 28.72%, P=0.001;tumor diameter:44.44% versus 26.45%, P=0.001;infiltrated envelope:50.00% versus 33.09%, P=0.020).Multivariate analysis showed that age < 45 years and tumor diameter > 1 cm were independent risk factors for central compartment lymph node metastasis of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma.There were 6 cases of temporary recu-rrent laryngeal nerve injury, 18 cases of temporary hypoparathyroidism, 4 cases of temporary superior laryngeal nerve injury, and 1 case of acute caryngeal edema.There were no complications such as permanent laryngeal nerve injury and permanent hypoparathyroidism.Three cases had lateral cervical lymph node metastases during a follow-up of 7-67 months (mean 31.2 months). ConclusionsIt is necessary and safe to perform elective central compartment lymph node dissec-tion for cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma.The elective central compartment lymph node dissection should be considered in patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma, especially in patients with age of < 45 years and tumor diameter > 1 cm.
Objective To explore the manifestations and features of multi-slice spiral CT （MSCT） in the diagnosisof papillary thyroid carcinoma （PTC）. Methods Preoperative MSCT data of 35 cases of PTC proved by operation and pathology in our hospital form May. to Jun. in 2013 were observed retrospectively， to analyze the manifestations and characteristics of MSCT for it. Results Of 35 patients with PTC， MSCT totally showed 48 lesions， 68.6% （24/35） of patients with single lesion， 31.4% （11/35） of patients with 2-3 lesions， and 62.9% （22/35） of patients with lymph node metastasis. Of the 48 lesions， 29.2% （14/48） of lesions located in the left lobe， 70.8% （34/48） of lesions located in the right lobe；the lesions’ maximum diameter were 0.4-5.8cm， with the average maximum diameter of 1.3cm. There were 39.6% （19/48） of lesions with uneven density， 25.0% （12/48） of lesions with irregular shape， 47.9% （23/48） of lesions with blurred edges， 18.8% （9/48） of lesions had papillary enhanced tumor nodules， 10.4% （5/48） of lesions had peritumoral incomplete enhanced ring sign， 22.9% （11/48） of lesions invaded surrounding tissue or organs. There were 35.4% （17/48） of lesions had calcification， in which 76.4% （13/17） of lesions were fine granular calcification， 11.8% （2/17） of lesions were mixed calcification， and 11.8% （2/17） of lesions were coarse calcification. Conclusion MSCT manifestations of PTC have certain characteristics， which can provide imaging basis for clinical treatment options.