BACKGROUND: Papillary thyroid cancer has a high frequency of lymph-node metastasis, but the methods for detecting and treating of lymph-node metastases remains controversial. We reviewed clinical analyses for lymph-node metastases. METHODS: Were retrospectively reviewed charts of 120 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who were treated from July 1994 to February 1997. Clinical aspects and the relationship between age, sex, tumor size, extracapsular invasion, multicentricity of the tumor and lymphadenopathy and the rate of lymph-node metastasis were investigated. RESULTS: Modified neck dissection was done in 97 patients, and lymph node metastases were detected in 72 patients (74.2%). Lymph-node meatastases were detected in 3 patients during routine central compartment neck dissection. The overall lymph-node metastasis was 62.5% (75 of 120). The mean number of metastastic nodes was 5.67, and the most frequent site was level VI. Lymph-node metastases were more frequent at a young age and for large sized tumors, extracapsular invasion and preoperatively palpable lymphadenopathy. CONCLUSIONS: The lymph-node metastatic rate is high for preoperatively palpable lymph node, tumor sizes over 4 cm, and extracapsular invasion (p<0.05). To reduce the recurrence rate, the surgeon shoud do a modified neck dissection on such above patients.
Humans ; Lymph Nodes* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Neck Dissection ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to provide evidence for the relationship between health risks and selfreported absenteeism and presenteeism. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of 496 employees of an electric company was conducted. Participants responded to a self-questionnaire including the assessment of 7 health risks (obesity, current smoking, problem drinking, lack of exercise, chronic disease, depressive mood, high stress) and the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment - General Health Questionnaire (WPAI-GH). Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the significance of health risks on work impairment. RESULTS: As a result of the analysis of all the participants, problem drinking (absenteeism) and high stress (absenteeism and presenteeism) were significantly associated with work impairment. In the analysis of a sub-group, current smoking (presenteeism), lack of exercise (absenteeism), and high stress (presenteeism and absenteeism) were significantly associated with reduced productivity among the blue-collar workers. However, the analysis of the white-collar workers showed no significant relationship between health risks and work impairment. CONCLUSIONS: This investigation suggests that employees who have more health risks will experience more absenteeism and presenteeism than employees with fewer risks, and this association is affected by employment type.
Absenteeism* ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Drinking ; Efficiency ; Employment ; Logistic Models ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking