Ultrasound Surveillance of Abnormal Cervical Lymph Nodes in Patients With Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma After Surgery. (17th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Minxia; Xia, Chunxia; Zhou, Yajing; Yu, Fengxia; Zhu, Qiang; Zhao, Hanxue
• Is Part Of: Journal of ultrasound in medicine. Volume 40:Number 1(2021)
• Page Start: 29
• Page End: 37
• Publication Date: 2020-06-17
• Subjects: lymph nodes -- neoplasm metastasis -- papillary thyroid carcinoma -- thyroid neoplasms; Ultrasonics in medicine -- Periodicals; Ultrasonics; Ultrasonography; Ultrasonics in medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 616.07543
• DOI: 10.1002/jum.15369
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-4297

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To document the changing trends of abnormal cervical lymph nodes (LNs) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) who had serial follow‐up ultrasound (US) scans after surgery and to determine how these node abnormalities progress in real time. Methods: Ultrasound findings from 568 consecutive patients with PTC who were monitored postoperatively were reviewed. Abnormal LNs were classified as either suspicious or indeterminate according to the European Thyroid Association guidelines. Outcomes from US monitoring of the LNs were recorded and analyzed. Results: Seventy‐six (13.4%) of 568 patients were identified with abnormal LNs. Among them, 55 (72.4%) were initially found to have suspicious LNs, and the other 21 (27.6%) had indeterminate lesions. Of the 55 suspicious LNs, final scans showed that 38 (69.1%) lesions were still suspicious, whereas the remaining 17 (30.9%) nodes were shown to have resolved after a median follow‐up of 36 months. Of the 21 indeterminate node abnormalities, final scans showed that 16 (76.2%) LNs remained indeterminate, whereas the other 5 (23.8%) nodes had developed into suspicious LNs after a median follow‐up of 44 months. Loss of the fatty hilum and peripheral or diffusedly increased vascularity were more likely to be linked to persistent suspicious LNs ( P = .02 and .04, respectively). Suspicious LNs with echogenic foci but a lack of other abnormal features were more frequently found to have resolved thereafter ( P = .03). Conclusions: Abnormal LNs detected after PTC surgery can often remain indolent during US surveillance, and a small portion of the nodes would have resolved over time. Abstract : Access the CME test here and search by article title.