Abstract
Background: Several factors were found to affect recur-rence and prognosis in patients with Well Differentiated Thyroid Cancer (WDTC). Although greater tumor size (>4cm.) was found to be a predictor for multiple recurrence in patients with WDTC, it didn't appear to predict for mortality in those patients. In our study size of the primary tumor in thyroid gland when first removed didn't appear to affect L.N. metastasis in subsequent early recurrence (less than 12 months).
Aim of Study: To assess the effect of size of primary thyroid tumor on lymph node affection by tumor in early recurrence in patients with recurrent well differentiated thyroid cancer.
Patients and Methods: Forty patients with recurrent WDTC were studied between June 2014 and June 2015, where data was collected regarding primary tumor characteristics, demographic data for all patients, and type of surgery done. Adequate management and surgery were done for all patients, and L.N.s status was assessed pathologically. Data was taken and statistically analyzed.
Results: Thirty five patients presented with nodal affection in first recurrence with primary thyroid tumor size ranged between 1 and 8cm with median size 6cm. In the 5 patients with no L.N. affection in first recurrence thyroid tumor size ranged between 5 and 8cm. with median size reaching 6cm. In our study, size of primary tumor in thyroid gland when first removed showed that it had no effect on L.N. metastasis in subsequent first recurrence.
Conclusions: Although size of primary thyroid tumor when first removed is an important factor that may affect recurrence and hence patients outcome, however it didn't show that it may affect L.N.s metastasis in subsequent recur-rence. Size of primary thyroid tumor is not a predictor for L.N. metastasis in subsequent first recurrence.