Nodal metastasis in well-differentiated follicular carcinoma of the thyroid: Its incidence and clinical significance

Hirokawa,Mitsuyoshi; Ito,Yasuhiro; Kuma,Seiji; Takamura,Yuuki; Miya,Akihiro; Kobayashi,Kaoru; Miyauchi,Akira

doi:10.3892/ol_00000154

September-October 2010 Volume 1 Issue 5

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September-October 2010 Volume 1 Issue 5

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Article

Nodal metastasis in well-differentiated follicular carcinoma of the thyroid: Its incidence and clinical significance

Authors:
- Mitsuyoshi Hirokawa
- Yasuhiro Ito
- Seiji Kuma
- Yuuki Takamura
- Akihiro Miya
- Kaoru Kobayashi
- Akira Miyauchi
View Affiliations / Copyright

Affiliations: Department of Diagnostic Pathology, Kuma Hospital, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0011, Japan. mhirokawa@kuma-h.or.jp
Pages: 873-876
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Published online on: September 1, 2010

https://doi.org/10.3892/ol_00000154
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Abstract

The clinical significance of nodal metastasis in well-differentiated follicular carcinoma (WD-FC) of the thyroid remains a controversial issue. This study aimed to clarify clinical and pathological characteristics of WD-FC with nodal metastasis, based on the new WHO classification. We examined 249 WD-FC cases diagnosed between 1983 and 2004 in our hospital. Poorly differentiated follicular carcinoma was not included in this study. Of the 249 WD-FC cases, 9 (3.6%) revealed nodal metastasis. The incidences of nodal metastasis in minimally invasive and widely invasive cases were 2.0 and 9.8%, respectively. In four patients, nodal metastasis was detected in the ipsilateral lymph nodes during the initial surgery. A total of 6 patients presented with nodal metastasis 2-10 years after the initial operation, and 3 patients with bilateral and large nodal metastases were relatively young. No patients succumbed to the carcinoma. Primary lesions of WD-FC with nodal metastasis were microscopically conventional, and there were no findings predicting nodal metastasis. We hypothesized that the incidence of nodal metastasis in WD-FC, based on the new WHO classification, was lower compared with previous reports. Younger individuals may be at a higher risk of large bilateral nodal metastasis. The presence of nodal metastasis did not affect the long-term outcome of follicular carcinoma.

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Journals

International Journal of Molecular Medicine

International Journal of Oncology

Molecular Medicine Reports

Oncology Reports

Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine

Oncology Letters

Biomedical Reports

Molecular and Clinical Oncology

World Academy of Sciences Journal

International Journal of Functional Nutrition

International Journal of Epigenetics

Medicine International

Nodal metastasis in well-differentiated follicular carcinoma of the thyroid: Its incidence and clinical significance

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Abstract

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