Minimal thyroid carcinoma: a report of nine cases discovered by cervical lymph node metastases.

From 1962 to 1983, nine patients with minimal carcinoma of the thyroid were referred to Aichi Cancer Center Hospital and to Aichi Medical University Hospital for evaluation of enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. The radiographic study and scintigraphy of the thyroid were useful in detection of small thyroid lesions. In two cases, a lymph node biopsy was required for confirmation of the diagnosis. The thyroid lesions were histologically papillary carcinoma, in all the cases. A modified neck dissection with total thyroidectomy was carried out in five patients and modified neck dissection with thyroid lobectomy was done in four cases. Nine patients were followed for 6 months to 20 years and all the patients except one are alive.