Utility of Lymph Node Ratio in Predicting Biochemical Incomplete Clinical Response in Patients with Papillary Ca thyroid with Positive Neck Node

with the requirement of aggressive follow-up in patients with biochemically incomplete response in patients of papillary ca. thyroid with neck node, a predictor for clinical response would be of great help for better treatment and follow-up planning.

To determine the utility of lymph-node ratio (central and lateral) as predictors for clinical response post total thyroidectomy and neck dissection.

51 patients of papillary carcinoma thyroid with neck node were treated with surgery and RAI as per ATA guidelines and were analyzed for a median of 3 years. (Retrospective cohort analysis).

We did response evaluation, correlated clinical response with lymph-node ratios. We found a statistically significant relationship of lymph-node ratio with around a sensitivity and specificity of approximately 90% in predicting the biochemically incomplete response.

we conclude that lateral and central compartment ratios can be used in predicting the occurrence of biochemically incomplete response.