Ohshima et al identified risk factors for bilateral metastases to regional lymph nodes in a patient with a papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland. The presence of these factors can help identify a patient who may benefit from a bilateral modified radical neck dissection at the time of definitive initial surgery. The authors are from Noguchi Thyroid Clinic and Hospital Foundation in Beppu, Japan.
Parameters:
(1) gender
(2) size of the primary tumor
(3) involvement of the isthmus
(4) involvement of adjacent extrathyroid tissue
(5) gross nodal involvement at initial surgery
Parameter |
Finding |
Points |
gender of the patient |
female |
0 |
|
male |
1 |
size of the tumor |
small to moderate (<= 20 mm) |
0 |
|
large (> 20 mm) |
1 |
involvement of the isthmus |
absent |
0 |
|
present |
1 |
involvement of adjacent tissue |
absent |
0 |
|
present (with extracapsular adhesions or invasion ) |
1 |
gross nodal involvement |
absent |
0 |
|
present |
1 |
number of risk factors =
= SUM(points for all 5 parameters)
Interpretation:
• minimum number of risk factors: 0
• maximum number of risk factors: 5
• The higher the number the higher one should consider performing a bilateral modified radical neck dissection. This may prevent the need for a second operation and may improve the patient's outcome.
• An older patient may be good candidate for bilateral neck dissection since they tend to do worse than younger patients if bilateral metastases should develop (page 1198). Looking at Figure 4 I would take this to mean anyone >= 40 years of age.
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general, Endocrinology