Abstract
Cervical lymph node metastasis of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland is frequently experienced but retropharyngeal lymph node (Rouviere lymph node) metastasis is rare.
We report 4 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma with Rouviere lymph node metastases that were found by FDG-PET after an operation.
We performed surgical resection in 3 of the 4 cases. We managed to resect Rouviere lymph node metastases without mandibular osteotomy because the metastases were comparatively small (major axis of lymph nodes was about 10 mm). We successfully resected Rouviere lymph node metastases by a cervical approach in one case and by a cervical approach combined with transparotid approach in two cases. Dysphagia developed due to glossopharyngeal nerve paralysis after the operation in 2 cases, which was relieved six weeks later.
Postoperative follow-up using FDG-PET (FDG-PET-CT) was considered to be useful for detection of Rouviere lymph node metastases in these cases.
