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Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), the most common thyroid cancer histotype, has a good prognosis even when spread to the neck lymph node (LN). The prognostic role of LN metastases’ location is still controversial. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical relevance of the number and location of LN metastases at presentation in PTCs. This retrospective study included a consecutive series of 1653 PTC patients followed for a mean period of 5.9 years in a referral thyroid cancer clinic. All patients have undergone thyroidectomy with the dissection of at least six LNs. According to the LN status, patients were subdivided into 569 N0 (34.4%), 644 N1a (39.0%, central compartment) and 440 N1b (26.6%, latero-cervical compartment). Age at diagnosis was significantly lower in N1b (39.8, IQR 30.7–51.6) and N1a (40.1, IQR 31.3–50.1) than in N0 (44.7, IQR 36.6–55.0 yrs). The male gender was more prevalent in N1b than in N1a and N0 (F/M = 1.9/1, 4.0/1 and 5.5/1, respectively). Persistent/recurrent disease at last control was significantly more frequent in N1b (29.8%) than in N1a (14.3%), and in N1a than in N0 (4.2%) (p< 0.01 for all). Also, distant metastases were significantly (p< 0.001) more frequent in N1b (14.1%) than in N1a (4.3%) and N0 (1.6%). LN metastases’ number (>5) was a significant risk factor for persistent/recurrent disease only for N1a patients. These data indicate that persistent/recurrent disease and distant metastases are significantly more frequent in patients with latero-cervical LN (N1b) metastases and that the LN location should be used for a better postsurgical risk stratification.

We describe the case of a 44-yr-old woman, who 2 yr after thyroidectomy for a multinodular goiter with a follicular adenoma showed a rapidly growing mass of the neck causing dysphagia and moderate pain. Fine needle aspiration biopsy revealed the presence of fibroblast-like cells, partially with atypical features and no colloid: the cytological diagnosis was suspicious for an indeterminate (mesenchymal) neoplasm. Histological diagnosis, after extensive surgery, indicated aggressive fibromatosis. Immunohisto-chemistry was positive for vimentin and negative for thyroglobulin. After surgery, nuclear magnetic resonance showed a persistent mass of approximately 2 cm; dysphagia and pain persisted. Therefore, the patient received external radiation therapy (total dose 60 Gy) with clinical benefit. The patient is without symptoms 1 yr after surgery.