Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41684449›Full record

ReviewFrontiers in endocrinology2025

Lymphatic metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma: mechanism and clinicopathological physiology.

Pu Liu, Xianqiang Yu

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Frontiers in endocrinology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Prognostic significance of the extent of extranodal extension in patients with pN1b papillary thyroid carcinoma: a retrospective cohort study.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2026
    Article
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Pu LiuDepartment of General Surgery, Qingdao Municipal Hospital (Qingdao Hospital of Rehabilitation University), Qingdao, China.
Xianqiang YuDepartment of Thyroid Disease Diagnosis and Treatment, Qingdao Municipal Hospital (Qingdao Hospital of Rehabilitation University), Qingdao, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Lymphatic metastasis is a hallmark feature of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), occurring in 30-80% of patients and significantly influencing clinical management. This review comprehensively examines the biological, anatomical, and clinical characteristics of lymphatic spread in PTC, focusing on its diagnostic and therapeutic implications. We detail the molecular mechanisms driving lymphangiogenesis, including the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 axis and immune-evasion pathways, and highlight the distinct patterns of regional lymph node involvement-from central compartment (Level VI) to lateral (Levels II-V) and rare skip metastases. High-risk clinicopathological features, such as tumor size >2 cm, extrathyroidal extension, and aggressive histological variants, are discussed alongside molecular markers (BRAF V600E, TERT, RET/PTC) that predict metastatic potential. Management strategies are reviewed, balancing the benefits of prophylactic central neck dissection against its risks and emphasizing risk-adapted radioactive iodine therapy. Despite the frequency of lymphatic metastasis, its prognostic impact varies: microscopic nodal disease has minimal effect on survival, while macroscopic or extranodal extension increases recurrence and mortality risks. This synthesis of current evidence aims to guide clinicians in optimizing detection, treatment, and surveillance for PTC patients with lymphatic metastasis.

Indexed as

Lymphatic MetastasisThyroid Cancer, PapillaryThyroid NeoplasmsHumansLymphangiogenesisPrognosisBRAF mutationlymphatic metastasislymph node dissectionpapillary thyroid carcinomaradioactive iodine

Identifiers

PMID41684449
PMCPMC12890641

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.