Author(s): Arturo S. Mendoza III, M.D. and Dakila P. de los Angeles, M.D., F.P.C.S.

Abstract:
Objectives:
This study aims to ascertain if is there is an association between the clinico-pathologic features and characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer patients and the occurrence of central lymph node metastasis. The authors specifically looked at age, gender, tumor size, tumor multicentricity and extracapsular invasion.

Methods:
Patients admitted at the Department of Surgery, University of Santo Tomas Hospital between January 2006 and December 2010 who underwent total thyroidectomy with Central Lymph Node Dissection (CLND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma were included in the study after fulfilling the exclusion/inclusion criteria. Descriptive statistics related to patient demographics and tumor characteristics were applied using Pearson chi-square, independent T-test and univariate and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression.

Results:
Out of 47 patients, 27 patients have positive pathologic Central Lymph Node (CLN) metastasis (57.4%). On univariate analysis, only gender had a significant effect on the occurrence of central lymph node metastasis. Age, capsular invasion, multicentricity and tumor size on the other hand, had no significant correlation with the presence of CLN metastasis. On multivariate analysis, none of the defined parameters are independent predictors of CLN metastasis.

Conclusion:
Based on the patient population included in this study, gender is the only demographic characteristic that has a significant effect on the occurrence of CLN metastasis among patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Other demographic data and tumor features analyzed in this study had no significant association with the occurrence of positive cervical lymph nodes.

Key words: papillary thyroid cancer, central lymph node dissection, lymph node metastasis

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61662/PCS_xbfo5889