Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common thyroid cancer which spreads via the lymphatic route. Lymph nodes are also the most important prognostic indicators of persistent/recurrent/progressive disease. The lymph node yield (LNY), defined as the total number of lymph nodes retrieved during dissection, has not been determined in surgical resection of PTCs, be it in adults or pediatric population.
Robinson TJ, Thomas S, Dinan MA, et al. How many lymph nodes are enough? Assessing the adequacy of lymph node yield for papillary thyroid cancer. J Clin Oncol 2016;34(28):3434–3439. DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2016.67.6437.
Locca O, Farcomeni A, De Virgilio A, et al. Prognostic significance of lymph node yield and lymph node ratio in patients affected by squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and oropharynx: study protocol for a prospective, multicenter, observational study. Contemp Clin Trials Commun 2019;14:100324. DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2019.100324.
Haugen BR, Alexander EK, Bible KC, et al. 2015 American Thyroid Association management guidelines for adult patients with thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer: the American Thyroid Association guidelines task force on thyroid nodules and differentiated thyroid cancer. Thyroid 2016;26(1):1–133. DOI: 10.1089/thy.2015.0020.
Yap A, Shui A, Gosnell J, et al. Accuracy of the lymph node yield in surgery for papillary thyroid cancer in children. World J Surg 2021;45(10):3092–3098. DOI: 10.1007/s00268-021-06207-z.