Analysis of the cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

Objective:To explore the related factors of the cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma,and provide a theoretical basis in deciding the range of neck lymph node dissection.Methods:The clinical data of the papillary thyroid microcarcinoma patients treated with operation were collected,and the pathological and clinical characteristics were retrospectively analyzed.The correlations between age,gender,tumor size,number of lesions,capsular invasion and hashimoto's thyroiditis,HIF-1α and VEGF,and cervical lymph node metastasis were analyzed using logistic regression.Results:Among 325 patients,the cervical lymph node metastasis in 112 cases(34.5%),central area lymph node metastasis in 109 cases(33.5%) and lateral lymph node metastasis in 104 cases(32.0%) were found.The male,age less than 45 years old,tumor size more than 0.5 cm,capsular invasion and hashimoto's thyroiditis,positive HIF-1α and VEGF were the risk factors of the cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma(P< 0.05).Conclusions:The lymph node metastasis rate of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma is high.The independent risk factors can provide an important basis in the correct treatment of the disease.