Clinical Examination and Ultrasonography as Predictors of Lateral Neck Lymph Nodes Metastasis in Primary Well Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

Background: Lateral neck dissection is risky and should be performed only as a therapeutic intervention for known disease. Aim of the Study: This study aims at finding predictors which help in selecting patients who have high risk of lymph node metastasis. Methods: All the patients with well differentiated thyroid cancer underwent thyroidectomy with lateral lymph nodes (LNs) dissection with available pathology report and sufficient data have been included in the study. Results: Sixty nine patients have been included in this study. In multivariate analysis, the most reliable and significant factors for detecting L.N. involvement were the clinical picture and the U/S appearance of the Neck with P value of (0.008) and (0.001) respectively. Conclusion: Clinical and U/S examinations are the most independent and reliable factors to detect lateral neck lymph nodes involvement.