Skip metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma: evidence from a multicenter European retrospective study

Key Points

• Skip metastases occurred frequently in papillary thyroid carcinoma, indicating a less aggressive clinicopathologic profile.
• 76% of cases exhibited follicular variant features, highlighting distinct tumor characteristics implicated in skip metastases.
• Retrospective analysis across multiple centers revealed significant associations even with limited central nodal yield.
• Findings suggest a need for prospective studies to enhance risk stratification and surgical planning for better outcomes.

Abstract