Role of Neck Dissection for Differentiated Thyroid CA

Joint Hospital Surgical Grand Round NDH

Dr. Alex TSANG

Background

Differentiated Thyroid CA refers to– Papillary thyroid CA– Follicular thyroid CA– Comprises almost 90% of all Thyroid CA

Papillary Thyroid CA

Papillary thyroid cancers (PTC) =77% of thyroid malignancies

Strong propensity for regional nodal involvement.

Recent analysis which included > 33,000 patients with PTC, reports a 22% incidence of lymphatic involvement at initial operation

Follicular Thyroid CA

Follicular thyroid cancers (FTC) less common Lower rate of lymphatic involvement In the same analysis only 2% with lymphatic

involvement

Zaydfudim V, Feurer ID, Griffin MR, et al. The impact of lymph node involvement on survival in patients with papillary and follicular thyroid carcinoma. Surgery 2008;144(6):1070–7 [discussion: 1077–8].

Risk Factors associated with LN Metastasis

Fritze D, Doherty G. Surgical Management of Cervical Lymph Nodes in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Otolaryngol Clin N Am 43 (2010) 285–300

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Significance of LN Met

If LN Met +ve in initial OT– Locoregional Recurrence rate: higher

recurrence of DTC in 19% of patients with initially positive nodes and 2% in node-negative patients

Loh KC, Greenspan FS, Gee L, et al. Pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) staging for papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas: a retrospective analysis of 700 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82(11):3553–62.McHenry CR, Rosen IB, Walfish PG. Prospective management of nodal metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer. Am J Surg 1991;162(4):353–6.

Significance of LN Met

If LN Met +ve in initial OT– Distant Met: higher

In a series stratified by tumor size, 0.7% of patients initially T1-T3N0 had distant metastases at diagnosis and 2.9% eventually developed distant spread. For T1-T3N1 patients, 8.5% had systemic involvement at diagnosis, and 15.1% later developed systemic disease.

Loh KC, Greenspan FS, Gee L, et al. Pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) staging for papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas: a retrospective analysis of 700 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82(11):3553–62.McHenry CR, Rosen IB, Walfish PG. Prospective management of nodal metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer. Am J Surg 1991;162(4):353–6.

Significance of LN Met

If LN Met +ve in initial OT– Survival: inconclusive

Some studies showed no significant impact on survival if LN met +ve

Some studies showed worse long term survival (at least 14 years) if LN met +ve

So, knowing LN status helps to have more accurate staging which affect patients’ further management and prognosis.

Loh KC, Greenspan FS, Gee L, et al. Pathological tumor-node-metastasis (pTNM) staging for papillary and follicular thyroid carcinomas: a retrospective analysis of 700 patients. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1997;82(11):3553–62.McHenry CR, Rosen IB, Walfish PG. Prospective management of nodal metastases in differentiated thyroid cancer. Am J Surg 1991;162(4):353–6.

Cervical Lymphatics Anatomy

Cervical lymphadenectomy of one or more lymph node groups

Selective Neck Dissection

Two subtypes commonly encounter in surgery for DTC:

– Lateral neck dissection Level II-V

– Central compartment neck dissection

Level VI

Selective Neck Dissection

Neck LN Dissection for DTC

DTCPTC FTC

LN + LN +LN - LN -

Senario 1 Senario 2 Senario 3 Senario 4

Neck LN Dissection for DTC

DTCPTC FTC

LN + LN +LN - LN -

Senario 1 Senario 2 Senario 3 Senario 4

Neck LN Dissection for PTC

Senario 1– For therapeutic neck dissection– Which type?

ALWAYS systemic compartment dissection for the involved compartment over berry-picking procedure

Davidson HC, Park BJ, Johnson JT. Papillary thyroid cancer: controversies in the management of neck metastasis. Laryngoscope 2008;118(12):2161–5.

Neck LN Dissection for DTC

DTCPTC FTC

LN + LN +LN - LN -

Senario 1 Senario 2 Senario 3 Senario 4

Neck LN Dissection for PTC

Senario 21. Total thyroidectomy and surveillance +/- re-

operation if LN recurrence appropriate for small, noninvasive, clinically node-

negative PTC

Cooper D, Doherty G, Haugen B, et. al. Revised American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. THYROID Volume 19, Number 11, 2009

Neck LN Dissection for DTC

Senario 22. Total thyroidectomy and prophylactic central

compartment LN dissection advanced primary tumors extra-thyroidal extention High risk patient group: male, >45 year old Distant met

Cooper D, Doherty G, Haugen B, et. al. Revised American Thyroid Association Management Guidelines for Patients with Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. THYROID Volume 19, Number 11, 2009

Benefits for prophylactic CCLND

unanticipated central metastases in 38% to 45% of patients with PTC

prevents compression or invasion of critical aerodigestive and neural structures

decreases lymphatic recurrence low levels of thyroglobulin which may

facilitate surveillance for recurrent disease

Drawback for prophylactic CCLND

Uncertain about effect on overall survival Higher potential surgical complications

– Significantly higher temporary hypoPTH.– When compare with re-op in recurrence patients

vs prophylatic CCLND, significantly more permanent RLN palsy.

Fritze D, Doherty G. Surgical Management of Cervical Lymph Nodes in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Otolaryngol Clin N Am 43 (2010) 285–300

Neck LN Dissection for DTC

DTCPTC FTC

LN + LN +LN - LN -

Senario 1 Senario 2 Senario 3 Senario 4

Neck LN Dissection for FTC?

Senario 3– Therapeutic neck dissection is indicated

Senario 4– Not for prophylatics neck LN Dissection– Observation and re-operate if recurrence

as FTC had a lower risk of LN met

Conclusion

PTC– Therapeutic systemic functional compartment

dissection if LN met is +ve.– Prophylactic CCLND in high risk group in expert

hands. FTC

– Therapeutic systemic functional compartment dissection if LN met is +ve.

– NOT for prophylatic neck LN dissection.

The End

Questions?