Unique patterns of tumor growth related with the risk of lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma

摘要

Although many attempts have been made to predict the occurrence of lymph node metastases from papillary thyroid carcinoma, there are currently no reliable means to accurately predict cervical nodal metastasis. In this study, we present a novel prediction system for the lymph node metastasis based on the histological and cyclin D1 staining features. The frequency of lymph node metastases from a series of 210 papillary thyroid carcinomas was analyzed according to the clinicopathological variables, cyclin D1 staining patterns and BRAFV600E mutation in tumor tissue. A total of 113 (54%) patients had lymph node metastasis. Cyclin D1 was constantly expressed at the invasive tumor front and revealed well-defined isolated glands of tumor cells in the extra-tumoral region (isolated glands) and laterally spreading tubular growth along the fibrous septa around the invasive front of the tumor (lateral tubular growth). Upon univariate analysis, an age of less than 45 years (PPP=0.005), invasive growth pattern (P=0.007), extrathyroid extension (P=0.006), isolated glands (PPP=0.005) predicted lymph node metastasis, whereas BRAFV600E mutation did not. Upon multivariate analysis, age (P=0.001, odds ratio (OR)=5.146), tumor size (P=0.034, OR=3.119), isolated glands (PP<0.001, OR=24.652) were found to be strong independent predictors of lymph node metastasis. Cyclin D1 staining of papillary thyroid carcinoma is very useful for identifying the intrathyroidal spreading or multifocality of the tumors. Tumor growth patterns verified by cyclin D1 staining can be used for the identification of papillary thyroid carcinomas with metastatic potential.