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Structural alterations in tumor‐draining lymph nodes before papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasis
Author(s) -
Hinson Andrew M.,
Massoll Nicole A.,
Jolly Lee Ann,
Stack Brendan C.,
Bodenner Donald L.,
Franco Aime T.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
head and neck
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.012
H-Index - 127
eISSN - 1097-0347
pISSN - 1043-3074
DOI - 10.1002/hed.24807
Subject(s) - lymph , pathology , thyroid , thyroid carcinoma , medicine , cervical lymph nodes , metastasis , lymphatic system , cancer
Background The purpose of this study was to define and characterize the thyroid tumor‐draining lymph nodes in genetically engineered mice harboring thyroid‐specific expression of oncogenic Braf V600E with and without Pten insufficiency. Methods After intratumoral injection of methylene blue, the lymphatic drainage of the thyroid gland was visualized in real time. The thyroid gland/tumor was resected en bloc with the respiratory system for histological analysis. Results Although mice harboring Braf V600E mutations were smaller in body size compared with their wild‐type (WT) littermates, the size of their thyroid glands and deep cervical lymph nodes were significantly larger. Additionally, the tumor‐draining lymph nodes showed increased and enlarged lymphatic sinuses that were distributed throughout the cortex and medulla. Tumor‐reactive lymphadenopathy and histiocytosis, but no frank metastases, were observed in all mice harboring Braf V600E mutations. Conclusions The tumor‐draining lymph nodes undergo significant structural alterations in immunocompetent mice, and this may represent a primer for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) metastasis.