Sentinel node biopsy for follicular tumours of the thyroid gland.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

It is difficult to differentiate histologically between benign and malignant follicular-type tumours of the thyroid gland. The present study evaluated whether sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was helpful in obtaining the correct diagnosis of malignant follicular-type tumours, as metastasis to the lymph nodes is sufficient evidence for a diagnosis of cancer.

METHODS:

SLN biopsy was performed for 37 follicular-type tumours suspected to be malignant on the basis of preoperative examinations, but for which the diagnosis had not been confirmed.

RESULTS:

SNs were identified in 32 of 37 procedures. SLN metastases were found in four of 12 patients with a malignant tumour identified by intraoperative frozen-section analysis. There was one false-negative but no false-positive diagnoses. Frozen-section analysis of the tumour itself identified only one follicular cancer. The accuracies of preoperative imaging methods were lower than that of SLN detection.

CONCLUSION:

Detection of SLN metastasis was helpful in diagnosing follicular thyroid cancer and thus enabling one-stage surgery.

• Authors: H Takeyama, I Tabei, K Uchida, T Morikawa
• Journal: The British journal of surgery (Br J Surg) Vol. 96 Issue 5 Pg. 490-5 (May 2009) ISSN: 1365-2168 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19358183 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: British Journal of Surgery Society Ltd. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma, Follicular (mortality, pathology, surgery)
• Adult
• Aged
• Body Mass Index
• Diagnosis, Differential
• Female
• Humans
• Intraoperative Care
• Length of Stay
• Lymphatic Metastasis (pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy (methods, mortality)
• Thyroid Neoplasms (mortality, pathology, surgery)
• Treatment Outcome