ObjectiveTo explore the value of fluorescence tracer technique in sentinel lymph node (SLN) orientation of cN0 papillary thyroid cancer. MethodsThe total clinical data of 40 cT1-3N0M0 thyroid cancer patients admitted from January 2015 to January 2016 in our hospital were collected, and the SLN with indocyanine green (ICG) as fluorescent trace agent were observed and detected, and the effect of ICG detecting SLN and the guide role of SLNB on the dissection of the central area of neck lymph nodes by intraoperative frozen biopsy pathology and postoperative paraffin pathology were analyzed. ResultsA total of 40 thyroid cancer patients were treated by SLNB and then conducted by the dissection of the central area of neck lymph nodes, and 37 cases detected SLN, so the detection rate was 92.5% (37/40). And a total of 98 SLNs were detected, 1-5 for each case, average of 2.65/case. Intraoperative frozen pathological detected 28 cases of patients with metastases in SLN, and 9 patients without metastasis, including 1 case with postoperative pathology detecting micrometastasis in SLN and other 8 cases without metastasis in the central area of neck lymph nodes. Three cases who were not detected the SLN showed no metastases in final postoperative paraffin pathology. The SLNB of ICG fluorescent tracer was with a sensitivity of 96.6% (28/29), false-negative rate of 3.45% (1/29). ConclusionThe fluorescent tracer technique can guide the dissection of the central of neck lymph node of cN0 thyroid cancer patients accurately with a high detection rate and advantages of high sensitivity in detecting the SLN of thyroid cancer.
Objective To investigate the expressions and clinical significance of Notch-2 protein and Numb protein in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Methods PTC tissues and its para-cancerous tissues of 50 patients with PTC who treated in The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities from Mar. 2014 to Mar. 2017 were retrospectively collectied, to detect the expressions of Notch-2 protein and Numb protein by immunohistochenmical method. Results ① Expressions of Notch-2 protein and Numb protein in PTC tissues and para-cancerous tissues: the positive-expression rate of Notch-2 protein in PTC tissues was 82.00% (41/50), which was higher than that of para-cancerous tissues〔18.00% (9/50)〕, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=40.960, P<0.001). The positive-expression rate of Numb protein in PTC tissues was 66.00% (33/50), which was higher than that of para-cancerous tissues 〔0 (0/50) 〕, the difference was statistically significant (χ2=49.254, P<0.001). ② The relationship between expression of Notch-2 protein and expression of Numb protein in PTC tissues: there was a positive correlation between expressions of Notch-2 protein and Numb protein in PTC tissues (rs=0.323, P=0.022). ③ The relationship between expressions of Notch-2 protein and Numb protein in PTC tissues and clinicopathological features of the PTC patients: the expression of Notch-2 protein in PTC tissues was not significantly correlated with gender, age, tumor diameter, capsule infiltration, cervical lymph node metastasis, and TNM staging (P>0.05). The expression of Numb protein in PTC tissues was not significantly correlated with gender, age, tumor diameter, and capsule infiltration (P>0.05), but was significantly correlated with cervical lymph node metastasis and TNM staging (P<0.05), the positive rates of Numb protein in patients of staging Ⅲ+Ⅳ group and cervical lymph node metastasis group were lower than those of patients in staging Ⅰ+Ⅱ group and non-cervical lymph node metastasis group. Conclusion The positive-expression rate of Notch-2 protein and Numb protein in PTC tissues are higher than those of para-cancerous tissues, and there is a positive correlation between them in PTC tissues, suggesting that there may be a synergistic effect in the course of PTC progression.
ObjectiveTo explore the significance of thyroglobulin in the evaluation of lymph node metastasis during the treatment and follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma.MethodThe literatures about thyroid globulin evaluation of lymph node metastasis of differentiated thyroid carcinoma were collected through online database and summarized.ResultsThe determination of thyroglobulin played an important role in the perioperative evaluation of lymph node metastasis in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma, the guidance of postoperative radiotherapy for metastasis, and the monitoring of recurrence and metastasis, and thyroglobulin combined with imaging examination could improve its evaluation efficiency.ConclusionsThyroglobulin is an important marker for the evaluation of lymph node metastasis in the treatment and follow-up of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Combination between thyroglobulin and imaging examination or other laboratory indicators to comprehensively explore its diagnostic threshold is a new idea, that can improve its value in the evaluation of lymph node metastasis.
ObjectiveTo explore the influencing factors affecting lymph nodes posterior to the right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and construct a clinical nomogram prediction model to provide a reference for LN-prRLN dissection decision-making. MethodsThe clinical data of PTC patients admitted to the General Surgery Department of Baoding No.1 Central Hospital from January 2021 to December 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Among them, 325 patients underwent LN-prRLN dissection, and they were divided into non-metastatic group (269 cases) and metastasis group (56 cases) according to the presence or absence of LN-prRLN metastasis. By comparing the differences of clinical and pathological characteristics between the two groups, the risk factors of LN-prRLN metastasis were analyzed and discussed, and then the nomogram prediction model of LN-prRLN metastasis was constructed with the risk factors, and the effectiveness of the model was verified and evaluated. ResultsIn 325 patients, 56 cases (17.23%) occurred LN-prRLN metastasis. The results of univariate analysis showed that gender, extrathyroidal extension, lymph nodes anterior to right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-arRLN) metastasis, location of cancer focus, and lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) were related to LN-prRLN metastasis of PTC (P<0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed that male [OR=3.878, 95%CI (1.192, 12.615)], with extrathyroidal extension [OR=2.836, 95%CI (1.036, 7.759)], with LN-arRLN metastasis [OR=10.406, 95%CI (3.225, 33.926)], right cancer focus [OR= 5.632, 95%CI (1.812, 17.504)] and with LLNM [OR=3.426, 95%CI (1.147, 10.231)] were the risk factors of LN-prRLN metastasis. Receiver operating characteristic curves of nomogram prediction model based on the above risk factors showed that the area under the curve was 0.865, 95%CI was (0.795, 0.934), Jordan index was 0.729, sensitivity was 0.873, and specificity was 0.856, which had higher prediction value. The C-index of Bootstrap test was 0.840 [95%CI (0.755, 0.954) ]. Calibration curves showed that predictive value close to the ideal curve, had good consistency. The clinical decision curve analysis showed that the model had good clinical prediction effect on LN-prRLN metastasis of PTC. ConclusionsMale, extrathyroidal extension, LN-arRLN metastasis, right cancer focus and LLNM are independent risk factors for LN-prRLN metastasis of PTC. The nomogram prediction model based on the above independent risk factors has high discrimination and calibration, which is helpful for surgeons to make clinical decisions.
Objective To evaluate the quality of controlled trials on 131I therapy for thyroglobulin positive and radioactive iodine negative metastases（131I WBS-/Tg+）. Methods We electronically searched MEDLINE (1966 to Mar. 2004), EMBASE (1984 to 2003), The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trial, CENTRAL (Issue 2, 2004), CBMdisc (1978 to 2004) and CNKI (1994 to 2004), and handsearched 5 radiotherapy and endocrinology journals (Jan. 1980 to Apr. 2003). The methodological quality of included studies was assessed by using quality assessment criteria of the Cochrane systematic review guideline. Results Three non-randomized controlled trials were included. One was historical controlled trial, and two prospective trials. The sample sizes of three trials were 26, 60 and 70 respectively without mentioning the calculation base. The comparability of baseline was mentioned but not comparable across the trials. No double blind studies were used in the assessment of 131I efficacy. The time of follow-up varied from 2 to 15 years. None studies mentioned the side effects of 131I therapy for 131I WBS-/Tg+ metastases. Only two studies applied statistical methods properly. Conclusions Problems about allocation of groups, double blind, sample size, and follow-up period continue to exist in published controlled trials. RCT or prospective controlled trials of high quality are urgently needed in order to define the efficacy and safety of 131I therapy for 131I WBS-/Tg+ metastases.
Objective To investigate the efficacy of fine needle aspiration-thyroglobulin (FNA-Tg) with colloidal gold immunochromatographic assay (CGICA) on the assessment of lymph node metastasis during surgery in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) patients. Methods Seventy-eight patients with PTC who underwent surgery in the Department of Thyroid Surgery of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from August to December 2019 were selected as the research objects, 289 neck lymph node specimens cleaned during the operation were prepared into eluent after lymph node FNA within 10 minutes in vitro, and then the FNA-Tg level was detected rapidly and quantitatively by CGICA. The specimen of washout fluid was labeled and sent to the laboratory for FNA-Tg detection by Roche electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. The lymph nodes in the whole group were divided into central region group and lateral cervical region group according to their location. According to the long diameter of lymph nodes, they were divided into <5 mm group, 5–10 mm group and >10 mm group. With postoperative pathological report as the gold standard, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of the whole group of data subjects was drawn, and the area under curve (AUC) was compared to calculate the best cut-off value of FNA-Tg in diagnosing PTC lymph node metastasis. The sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FNA-Tg CGICA method and Roche method in the whole group and different subgroups were compared. The data of 55 lymph nodes detected by FNA-Tg CGICA method and rapid frozen pathology were collected, and the diagnostic efficacy indexes of CGICA method and rapid frozen pathology in the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis were compared. Results The ROC curves AUC of FNA-Tg detected by CGICA method and Roche method was 0.850 and 0.883, respectively, the difference was not statistically significant (Z=1.011, P>0.05). The sensitivity was 77.7% and 79.6% respectively (χ2=0.05, P>0.05), specificity was 84.9% and 93.5% respectively (χ2=7.50, P<0.05). Using McNemar test, there was no significant difference in the diagnostic results between the CGICA method and Roche method of FNA-Tg in the whole group (P>0.05). The diagnostic efficacy of FNA-Tg CGICA method was better in the lateral cervical region group than that in the central region group, and the diagnostic efficacy of the group with the long diameter of lymph nodes >10 mm was better than those of the groups with the long diameter of lymph nodes <5 mm and 5–10 mm. There was no significant difference in diagnostic results between FNA-Tg CGICA method and rapid frozen pathology (P>0.05). Conclusions The FNA-Tg CGICA method has high value in diagnosing PTC cervical lymph node metastasis, and has the characteristics of rapidity and convenience. The diagnostic efficiency is similar to that of Roche method.
ObjectiveTo understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the carcinogenesis and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and provide candidate targets for diagnosis and treatment of PTC.MethodsTo identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the carcinogenesis and progression of PTC, the study was carried by analyzing the microarray datasets downloaded from gene expression omnibus (GEO) database, and making a series of studies including the protein-protein interaction network, KEGG and GO enrichment analyses of DEGs.ResultsA total of 339 DEGs and 10 hub genes were identified. While the expression of KIT was downregulated in the samples of PTC, the figures for FN1, CCND1, TIMP1, ICAM1, APOE, MET, RUNX2, KRT19 and SERPINA1 were upregulated. After the hypothesis test was corrected by multiple tests, the results showed that the changes of APOE [false discovery rate (FDR)=0.047 5] and KIT (FDR=0.042 0) gene expression had a certain impact on recurrence free survival (RFS) of PTC patients, which was statistically significant.ConclusionsSurvival analysis showed that FN1, ICAM1, APOE, MET, KRT19, KIT and SERPINA1 may be involved in the carcinogenesis or prognosis of PTC. However, further studies are needed to elucidate the biological function of these genes in PTC.
Objective To assess the applied significance of carbon nanoparticles in central compartment lymph node dissection in treatment of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods Sixty-eight patients with cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma who were treated in Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College from May. to Oct. in 2012 were randomly allocated to the control group （n=32） and the carbon nanoparticles trace group （tracer group， n=36）， receiving non-carbon nanoparticles trace and carbon nanoparticles trace respectively. All patients were received total resection of thyroid plus the affected side and （or） contralateral side central compartment lymph node dissection. The lymph node-related indexes（including number of dissected lymph node at Ⅵarea and lymph node metastasis rate at Ⅵarea） and operative indexs （including operation time， blood loss， drainage time， complication， and hospital stay） were collected and compared between the 2 groups. Results There were 205 and 324 dissected lymph node at central compartment in control group and tracer group respectively. The results of postoperative pathology showed that the number of lymph node in central compartment of the tracer group was much more than those of control group （8.99±2.24 vs. 6.41±1.56， P＜0.001）. The metastasis rate of central compartment lymph node were 40.6% （13/32） in control group and 47.2% （17/36） in tracer group， but there was no significant difference between the 2 groups （P=0.762）. But in medial area of laryngeal recurrent nerve， the metastasis rate in the tracer group （38.9%， 14/36） was much higher than those of control group （12.5%， 4/32）， P=0.029. There were no significant differences in the operation time， blood loss， drainage time， hospital stay， and complication incidence such as bleeding， temporary hypocalcemia， and injury of superior laryngeal nerve between 2 groups （P＞0.05）. All the patients in 2 groups had followed-up for 6 months without death， recurrence， and metastasis.Conclusions The lymphatic tracer technique of carbon nanoparticles may improve the number of dissected lymph nodes in central region of cN0 papillary thyroid carcinoma， without increasing （or prolonging） operation time， intraoperative blood loss， and postoperative hospital stay， and can accurately represent the metastasis of lymph node， thus to make the staging of the tumor accurately and guide postoperative treatment.
ObjectiveTo investigate the risk factors affecting cervical central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) and lateral lymph node metastasis (LLNM) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). MethodsThe patients with newly diagnosed with PTC who underwent surgical treatment in this hospital from April 2020 to December 2023 were included. The univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify the risk factors affecting the occurrences of CLNM and LLNM in patients with PTC and a prediction model was developed using these risk factors. Additionally, the discriminatory power of the predictive model for CLNM or LLNM was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). ResultsA total of 297 patients with PTC were included in this study, among whom 149 (50.2%) cases developed CLNM, and 41 (13.8%) cases developed LLNM. The multivariate analysis indicated that the male, age <36 years old, and maximum tumor diameter >5 mm were the independent risk factors for CLNM in the patients with PTC (P<0.05). The independent risk factors for LLNM in the patients with PTC were the age ≥59 years old, bilateral or isthmus distribution of cancer foci, maximum tumor diameter >5 mm, and invasion of capsule (P<0.05). The AUC (95%CI) of the CLNM prediction model, constructed using three risk factors (gender, age, and maximum tumor diameter), was 0.693 (0.633, 0.752). For the LLNM prediction model, which incorporated four factors [age, distribution of cancer foci, maximum tumor diameter, and capsular invasion], the AUC (95%CI) was 0.776 (0.707, 0.846). ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest that younger male patients with PTC (age <36 years), and a maximum tumor diameter >5 mm have a higher risk of CLNM. However, the predictive model constructed for CLNM demonstrates only moderate discriminatory power. In contrast, elderly patients (age ≥59 years old) with PTC exhibiting a maximum tumor diameter >5 mm, capsular invasion, and bilateral (or isthmus) lesions are at greater risk of LLNM. The predictive model developed for LLNM shows a certain discriminatory performance.
ObjectiveTo analyze the clinical and pathological features of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, and to assess the value and safety of total thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection in the treatment of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma. MethodsClinical data of 103 patients with multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, who underwent total thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection in Affliated Dongfeng Hospital from June 2011 to February 2015 were collected retrospectively. Preoperative ultrasound showed that all patients didn't suffered from cervical lymph node metastasis. ResultsAmong 103 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy plus central lymph node dissection, the unilateral multiple lesions were found in 55 patients (53.40%), and the bilateral multiple lesions were found in 48 patients (46.60%). A total of 31 patients (30.10%) were confirmed to have central lymph node metastasis after operation, central lymph node metastasis only located in the same side of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma in 16 patients (29.10%), but of 15 patients (31.25%) with 2-side of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, 7 patients suffered from 2-side central lymph node metastasis and 8 patients suffered from 1-side central lymph node metastasis. Thirty patients (12.62%) suffered from transient postoperative hypocalcemia after operation, and returned to normal for longest of 2 weeks; 1 patient (0.97%) suffered from parathyroid permanent damage; 18 patients (17.48%) suffered from transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, no one suffered from permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury; 3 patients (2.91%) suffered from postoperative transient drinking cough. All of 103 patients were followed up for 5 months to 4 years, and the postoperative follow-up rate was 100%. During the follow-up period, 3 patients (2.91%) suffered from cervical lymph node metastasis in side region of neck. ConclusionTotal thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central lymph node dissection plays an important role in the treatment of multifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma.