Intratumoral Lymphatics and Lymph Node Metastases in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

Objective: To examine the relationship between lymphatic vessel density and clinical and pathological variables in patients with well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma.Subjects: Clinical information was retrieved on 109 previously untreated patients with well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma treated with total thyroidectomy and postoperative iodine I 131 ablation.Median follow-up was 38 months.Design: Archived tissue specimens were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin-eosin and anti-LYVE-1 antibody, a highly specific marker for lymphatic endothelium.The size of the tumor and its multifocality were noted and lymphatic vessel density was measured by means of Chalkley point counting.Results: Numerous intratumoral lymphatics were seen in papillary thyroid carcinoma.