Lymphovascular invasion (LVI) has been a predictor of worse survival outcomes in breast cancer. However, the role of LVI compared than pathologic complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the association between LVI and survival outcomes and clinicopathological features in patients with breast cancer treated with NAC. We retrospectively analyzed 187 patients with breast cancer treated with NAC and surgery between 2005 and 2013 in our institution. Kaplan–Meier analyses were used to assess recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Median follow-up was 57.9 months. Mastectomy (vs breast conserving surgery [BCS]; hazard ratio [HR], 1.791; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.022–3.139; P = .042), ypN1-3 stage (vs ypN0 stage; HR, 2.561; 95% CI, 1.247–5.261; P = .010), and LVI (vs no LVI; HR, 2.041; 95% CI, 1.170–3.562; P = .012) were associated with worse RFS. Mastectomy (vs BCS; HR, 2.768; 95% CI, 1.173–6.535; P = .020), LVI (vs no LVI; HR, 3.474; 95% CI, 1.646–7.332, P = .001), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression type (vs luminal A type; HR, 11.360; 95% CI, 1.501–85.972; P = .019) were associated with worse OS. Patients with LVI and hormone receptor-negative cancer had the worst RFS (P < .001) and OS (P < .001). LVI more than pCR in surgical breast cancer specimens obtained after NAC was a significant independent prognostic factor. Patients with hormonal receptor-negative cancer and LVI had unfavorable survival outcomes. We suggest that patients with hormone receptor-negative cancer and LVI should receive short-term follow-up and appropriate management.

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with ipsilateral neck metastatic lymph node (LN) and those with contralateral neck metastatic LN belong to N1b. Only a few studies have reported on comparisons with regard to laterality of metastatic lateral LN. The aim of this study was to evaluate predictive factors for contralateral neck LN metastasis and to determine prognostic factors for recurrence in PTC patients with N1b. This retrospective study reviewed the medical records of 390 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and central LN dissection plus ipsilateral or bilateral modified radical neck dissection (MRND) between January 2004 and December 2012. During a median follow-up of 81 (range, 6–156) months, 84 patients had a recurrence in any lesion. Male gender, a main tumor of more than 2 cm, number of metastatic central LN, number of harvested and metastatic lateral LN, total LN ratio, multifocality, bilaterality, and gross ETE had significance in the patients who underwent bilateral MRND. In multivariate analysis according to recurrence, patients with LN ratio > 0.44 in the central compartment (hazard ratio [HR], 1.890; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.124–3.178; p = 0.015), LN ratio > 0.29 in the lateral compartment (HR, 2.351; 95% CI, 1.477–3.743; p < 0.001), and multifocality (HR, 1.583; 95% CI, 1.030–2.431; p = 0.036) were associated with worse RFS. However, the type of MRND was statistically significant only in univariate analysis. Recurrence in N1b PTC patients is predicted by central neck LN ratio > 0.44, lateral neck LN ratio > 0.29, and multifocality of tumors. We suggest that patients with these factors should receive short-term follow-up using image modalities like ultrasonography and computed tomography.

Skip lymph node (LN) metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) belong to N1b classification in the absence of central neck LN involvement. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive factors of skip metastases and their impact on recurrence in PTC patients with pN1b. A total of 334 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with LN dissection (central and lateral neck compartment) followed by radioactive iodine ablation were included. Patients with skip metastases tended to have a small primary tumor (≤1 cm) and single lateral neck level involvement. Tumor size ≤ 1 cm was an important predictive factor for skip metastases. Univariate analysis for recurrence showed that patients with a central LN ratio > 0.68, lateral LN ratio > 0.21, and stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) levels > 7.3 ng/mL had shorter RFS (recurrence-free survival). The stimulated Tg level was associated with shorter RFS on multivariate analysis (>7.3 vs. ≤7.3 ng/mL; hazard ratio, 4.226; 95% confidence interval, 2.226−8.022; p < 0.001). Although patients with skip metastases tended to have a small primary tumor and lower burden of lateral neck LN involvement, there was no association between skip metastases and RFS in PTC with pN1b. Stimulated Tg level was a strong predictor of recurrence.

Whether or not to perform prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND) in the case of clinically node-negative papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the risk factors for recurrence in clinically node-negative PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy plus bilateral central neck dissection and was verified pathologic N1a. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 1082 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and prophylactic bilateral CLND between January 2004 and December 2012. We used Cox-proportional hazard regression analyses in order to explore potential predictive factors for recurrence. During a median follow-up (range) of 78 (12–158) months, recurrence occurred in 62 (5.7%) patients. Main tumor size more than 1 cm, gross extrathyroidal extension (ETE), positive lymph node (LN) more than 3, and LN ratio > 0.5 were all significantly associated with recurrence according to univariate analysis. In model I multivariate analysis (tumor size, gross ETE, LN ratio), LN ratio > 5 (hazards ratio [HR], 4.794; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.674–8.595; p < 0.001) was found to be predictive of recurrence. Gross ETE (HR, 1.794; 95% CI, 1.024–3.143; p = 0.041) and positive LN more than 3 (HR, 2.505; 95% CI, 1.513–4.146; p < 0.001) were predictors for recurrence in model II multivariate analysis (tumor size, gross ETE, the number of positive LN). We recommend that surgeons try to focus completely on performing prophylactic CLND for patients with suspicious gross ETE during preoperative evaluation. Close monitoring and thorough management are needed for clinically node-negative PTC patients with LN ratio of more than 0.5 and more than 3 positive LN in the central compartment.

There is still debate regarding the role of routine central lymph node (LN) dissection in treating clinically node-negative papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for lateral recurrence after total thyroidectomy and prophylactic bilateral central LN dissection in clinically node-negative PTC patients. We retrospectively collected the medical records of 1406 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and prophylactic bilateral central LN dissection between January 2004 and December 2008. We used Cox- proportional hazards regression analyses to inspect the predictive factors for recurrence. During a median follow-up of 107 months (range, 13–164 months), 68 (4.8%) and 37 (2.6%) patients experienced recurrence in any lesion and in lateral neck LN, respectively. Male, main tumor size >1 cm, nodal factors (pathologic N1a, positive delphian LN, and LN ratio >0.15), lymphovascular invasion, and extrathyroidal extension (ETE) were significantly associated with lateral neck LN recurrence in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis showed that male (hazard ratio [HR], 2.217; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.057–4.647; P = .035), main tumor size >1 cm (HR, 2.257; 95% CI, 1.138–4.476; P = .020), pathologic N1a (HR, 5.957; 95% CI, 2.573–13.789; P < .002), minor ETE (vs no ETE; HR, 3.027; 95% CI, 1.315–6.966; P = .009), and gross ETE (vs no ETE; HR, 4.058; 95% CI, 1.685–9.774; P = .002) were independent predictors for lateral neck LN recurrence. Among patients with pathologic N1a, those with LN ratio of more than 0.55 had worse lateral neck LN recurrence-free survival. Lateral neck LN recurrence in clinically node-negative PTC patients is predicted by the factors of male, main tumor size >1 cm, ETE, and pathologic N1a.