Surgeon-performed fine-needle aspiration for lymph nodes behind the big cervical vessels in papillary thyroid cancer.

[OBJECTIVE] This study aimed to describe the technique of surgeon-performed ultrasound (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) of cervical retrovascular lymph nodes in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients and analyze its efficacy.

[METHODS] This study included consecutive patients with retrovascular suspicious lymph nodes who had FNA performed by surgeons. The technique and efficacy of four different puncture routes were assessed.

[RESULTS] A total of 102 lymph node FNAs were performed on 100 patients. None yield insufficient aspiration, while 2% of FNA cytology result in an indeterminate diagnosis. No severe complication was observed. Cytologic testing plus thyroglobulin washout indicated sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value in diagnosing nodal metastasis were 99%, 93%, 97%, and 97%, respectively. There was no significant difference in the test accuracy of FNA through different routes.

[CONCLUSIONS] In PTC patients, suspicious lymph nodes behind the big cervical vessels should not be considered a contraindication to FNA. They can be diagnosed safely and accurately using appropriate puncture routes.Level of evidence: 4.