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Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
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[Management of the neck for patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma]
1Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Institute (Hospital), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China.
Objective:
To search an optimal management of the neck for patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma.
Methods:
Clinical data of 424 cases with thyroid papillary carcinoma treated in our hospital from Jan, 1965 to Jan, 1987 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients with positive cervical lymph nodes (N+) were treated with radical excision of the primary tumor and neck dissection. For patients without cervical lymph node involvement (N0), neck dissection was spared. On follow-up, whenever cervical lymphatic node metastasis occurred, neck dissection was performed. All patients were followed up for more than 10 years.
Results:
The 5- and 10-year survival rate of the 258 N+ patients was 84.3% and 80.4% respectively, and that of the 166 N0 patients was 94.1% and 91.3% respectively. Twenty-three N0 cases later developed cervical lymph node metastasis. Their 5- and 10-year survival rate was 91.4% and 82.2% respectively after neck dissection.
Conclusion:
Since only 13.9% of N0 thyroid papillary carcinoma patients who did not receive neck dissection develop cervical lymph node metastases later, and their survival rate was just as good where neck dissection is postponed until metastases occur, prophylactic neck dissection seems unnecessary.
