Tumor location-dependent skip lateral cervical lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer

Background Lateral cervical lymph node metastasis without central lymph node (CLN) metastasis is not infrequent in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). This study was designed to investigate the frequency and pattern of skip metastasis in PTC. Methods We reviewed 131 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with CLN dissection and selective lymph node dissection. Tumor location was classified in 3 areas (upper, middle, and lower third) based on preoperative ultrasonographic findings. Results All skip metastases occurred in patients whose tumors had been on the upper part of the thyroid (p