Predictive factors for lymph node involvement in sporadic medullary thyroid microcarcinoma: a systematic review

G. Scerrino, G. Cocorullo, G. Orlando, G. Rotolo, A. Corigliano, C. Amato, M.P. Proclamà, I. Vitale, G. Melfa, N.C. Paladino

Department of Surgical Oncology and Oral Sciences, Unit of General and Emergency Surgery, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy. n.paladino@tiscali.it

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• Endocrinology
• Oncology

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to determine the impact of laboratory and imaging tests in predicting central and lateral neck lymph node/LN involvement and in decision making for surgical extent.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus search was performed according to PRISMA criteria. The relationship between nodule size, diagnostic biomarkers and imaging with LN involvement were evaluated.

RESULTS: The available data analysis did not yield clear indications of the relationship between each of these topics and the presence, number, and location of LN involved. There was no conclusive data for the selective indication of central neck dissection in the preoperative diagnosis of microMTC.

CONCLUSIONS: There is no justification for less invasive interventions than total thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection.

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