Value of CT added to ultrasonography for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in patients with thyroid cancer. Issue 10 (13th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Younghen; Kim, Ji‐hoon; Baek, Jung Hwan; Jung, So Lyung; Park, Sun‐Won; Kim, Jinna; Yun, Tae Jin; Ha, Eun Ju; Lee, Kyu Eun; Kwon, Soon Young; Yang, Kyung‐Sook; Na, Dong Gyu
• Is Part Of: Head & neck. Volume 40:Issue 10(2018)
• Page Start: 2137
• Page End: 2148
• Publication Date: 2018-05-13
• Subjects: CT -- lymph node -- metastasis -- thyroid cancer -- ultrasonography; Head -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Neck -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Head -- Periodicals; Neck -- Periodicals; Face -- Periodicals; 617.51059
• DOI: 10.1002/hed.25202
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1043-3074

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The benefit of CT for the diagnosis of lymph node metastasis in patients with thyroid cancer is still unclear. Methods: Three hundred fifty‐one patients with thyroid cancers from 7 hospitals were prospectively enrolled in order to compare diagnostic performance between a combination of ultrasound and CT (ultrasound/CT) and ultrasound alone for prediction of lymph node metastasis and to calculate patient‐based benefits of CT added to ultrasound. Results: Of 801 pathologically proven neck levels, ultrasound/CT showed higher sensitivities in both central and lateral compartments and improved accuracy in the lateral compartment compared to ultrasound alone. In the retropharyngeal/superior mediastinal compartment, although CT could detect lymph node metastasis an ultrasound could not. Patient‐based benefit was demonstrated in 13.1% of patients (46/351), and was higher in patients with cancers >1 cm than cancers ≤1 cm. Conclusion: In patients with thyroid cancer, CT improved surgical planning by enhancing the sensitivity for lymph node metastasis and by detecting lymph node metastasis that was overlooked with ultrasound alone.