The Prognostic Significance of the Metastatic Lymph Node Ratio in Patients with Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.
10.16956/kjes.2015.15.3.67
- Author:
Sang Yull KANG
1
;
Seon Kwang KIM
;
Hyun Jo YOUN
;
Sung Hoo JUNG
Author Information
1. Division of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Department of Surgery, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea. yhj0903@jbnu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Thyroid carcinoma;
Lymph node;
Ratio;
Recurrence
- MeSH:
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Lymph Nodes*;
Male;
Neck;
Neck Dissection;
Neoplasm Metastasis;
Recurrence;
Retrospective Studies;
ROC Curve;
Thyroid Gland*;
Thyroid Neoplasms*;
Thyroidectomy
- From:Korean Journal of Endocrine Surgery
2015;15(3):67-72
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Metastatic lymph node ratio (MLNR) is known as an important prognostic factor in many solid carcinomas; however, the role of MLNR in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether MLNR has prognostic significance for recurrence in patients with pathological N1a PTC. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted of 1,198 patients with PTC who underwent total thyroidectomy with central neck dissection between 2006 and 2011. Only patients with central lymph node metastasis were included in this study. Patients with lateral neck lymph node metastasis or extrathyroidal involvement were excluded. Finally, this study included 282 patients with N1a patients. MLNR was defined as the number of metastatic lymph nodes divided by the number of removed lymph nodes. RESULTS: Median age was 47.3 years (17~73 years). There were 209 female patients and 41 male patients, respectively. Median follow-up period was 53 months (36~114 months). Median value of MLNR was 0.36 (0.04~1.000). Of 250 patients, 20 patients (8.0%) developed recurrent disease. MLNR independently predicted PTC recurrence (odds ratio [OR], 6.385; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.523-16.158; P < 0.001). In receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, 0.47 was significantly meaningful for recurrence when three or more lymph nodes were collected. CONCLUSION: MLNR is an independent predictor of PTC recurrence in patients with pathological N1a PTC. Therefore, N1a patients with MLNR > 0.47 should be monitored closely for recurrence.
