Carcinoma of the Thyroid Metastatic to Lymph Nodes of the Neck

Abstract

On the basis of our experience with lymph node metastases from thyroid cancer several observations may be made. (1) Thyroid cancer is characterized by frequent local recurrence, local invasion, low mortality, and a prolonged clinical course. (2) Females with blood groups A and B are susceptible to this disease; the disease with blood type O appears to be protected from the development of thyroid cancer. (3) Total thyroidectomy and sampling of the jugular nodes is a satisfactory treatment for localized disease. (4) When regional lymph nodes are involved by tumor, a modified neck dissection produces a satisfactory cure rate with minimal cosmetic deformity. (5) Neither external irradiation nor systemic ¹³¹I are effective for the control of thyroid cancer metastatic to the cervical lymph nodes. (6) Local resection should be undertaken for anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid as palliation to prevent airway obstruction.