Abstract:
Objective To investigate the risk factors of lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in patients with sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma (sMTC).
Methods The clinical and ultrasonographic features of 94 patients with MTC treated in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from July 2009 to December 2011 were analyzed retrospectively. The risk factors for lateral cervical lymph node metastasis were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and Logistic regression.
Results Single factor Logistic analysis showed that male sex (F=5.234, P=0.022), preoperative calcitonin level >319 pg/mL (F=21.327, P < 0.001), maximum diameter >1.4 cm (F=5.875, P=0.015), upper pole location (F=6.088, P=0.014), pure solid type (F=5.224, P=0.047), irregular shape (F=8.754, P=0.003), and ill-defined margin (F=15.971, P < 0.001) were risk factors for lateral cervical lymph node metastasis. Multifactor analysis showed that male sex, preoperative calcitonin level >319 pg/mL, upper pole location, ill-defined margin, and hypoechoic findings on ultrasound were independent risk factors for lateral cervical lymph node metastasis.
Conclusions MTC patients with three or more risk factors (male sex, preoperative calcitonin level >319 pg/mL, upper pole location, irregular edge, and hypoechoic findings on ultrasound) have a higher likelihood of developing lateral cervical lymph node metastasis, and thus, preventive side neck lymph node dissection should be considered.