Contralateral jugular lymph node metastasis (CJLNM) of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is rarely found during operative procedures. HoweverPTC is being diagnosed with increasing frequency and lymph node metastasis is now recognized as a factor of prognosis and recurrence. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the clinical and histological characteristics of papillary thyroid cancer and to determine the factors that lead to CJLNM.

Two-hundred patients with PTC were treated in our hospital between March 2005 and October 2006. A retrospective analysis of the patient's clinical and histological features and lymph node metastasis was conducted.

The total ratio of CJLNM to PTC was approximately 7.5%, the male to female ratio was 1:6.5, and the mean tumor size was 14.93 mm. In addition, the multiplicity was 53.3% and the bilatrality was 53.3%. Further, there were 4 cases involving benign thyroid disease combined with goiter. In addition, the capsule invasion was 100%. Age under 40 years, bilaterality and capsule invasion were found to be significant clinicopathologic factors of CJLNM induced by PTC.

A contralateral jugular lymph node biopsy of PTC may be considered in cases involving patients under 40 years of age with, bilaterality and capsular invasion.