[The clinical significance of the Delphian lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma].

Thyroid cancer is one of the commonest head and neck cancer. According to the recent research, VI lymph nodes (also called the front area, including thyrocricoid lymph nodes, tracheal surrounding lymph nodes, thyroid surrounding lymph node,recurrent laryngeal nerve lymph nodes, retropharyngeal lymph nodes) is the most common site of involvement in the differentiated thyroid carcinoma. Thyrocricoid lymph nodes known as the Delphian lymph node(DLN) is located between the thyroid cartilage and the cricoid cartilage. The DLN is one of the most accurate predictor. This paper reviewed the clinical significance of the DLN, the role of DLN metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer, and the relationship between tumor size, multicentricity and DLN metastasis. We also discussed the association between DLN metastasis and additional central compartment metastasis, as well as lateral compartment metastasis.