Abstract
Lymphography of the thyroid gland was performed in 82 patients with multinodular goiter (41), solitary thyroid nodule (36), and hyperthyroidism (5). Six of the patients proved to have cancer. The studies showed that each thyroid lobe has its own intraglandular lymphatics and drains only to homolateral cervical lymph nodes. The absence of lymphatic connections between the two thyroid lobes casts doubt on the proposal that cancer cells spread from one lobe to the other by way of the lymphatics. Thyroid lymphography was found to be of value in demonstrating the presence or absence of metastases to cervical lymph nodes and, thereby, in determining the necessity for radical neck dissection. Lymphography was also useful in detecting unsuspected small thyroid nodules.
Résumé
Nous avons réalisé une lymphographie thyroÏdienne chez 82 malades atteints de goitre multinodulaire (41), de nodule thyroÏdien unique (36) ou d'hyperthyroÏdie (5). Six malades avaient un cancer. L'ensemble des examens a montré que chaque lobe thyroÏdien possède ses propres lymphatiques intraglandulaires qui drainent uniquement vers les ganglions cervicaux homolatéraux. L'absence de toute connection lymphatique entre les deux lobes thyroÏdiens jette un doute sur la théorie de la dissémination cancéreuse d'un lobe à l'autre par voie lymphatique. La lymphographie thyroÏdienne est utile pour mettre en évidence ou exclure la présence de métastases dans les ganglions cervicaux; elle pose donc l'indication d'un éventuel évidemment ganglionnaire cervical. La lymphographie est également utile pour détecter les petits nodules thyroÏdiens non repérables par les examens usuels.
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Fernandez-Cruz, L., Astudillo, E. & Pera, C. Lymphography of the thyroid gland: Is intraglandular dissemination of thyroid carcinoma possible?. World J. Surg. 1, 647–652 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01556198
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01556198