[Significance of level VI neck dissection in surgical operation for thyroid cancer].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Patients with thyroid cancer often come along with level VI lymph nodal metastasis. Neck dissection, which includes level VI, is routinely performed on cN1 patients, but whether cN0 patients need routine level VI neck dissection is uncertain. This study was to explore the rule of level VI lymph nodal metastasis in thyroid cancer and the significance of level VI neck dissection in surgical operation for thyroid cancer.

METHODS

Clinical data of 130 patients with thyroid cancer, who received level VI neck dissection from Jan. 1988 to Jan. 2000, were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Of the 130 patients, 97 had level VI lymph node metastasis, 14 (10.8%) had post-operative complications, including 4 cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Multivariate survival analysis indicated that level VI lymph nodal metastasis was correlated to the survival of thyroid cancer patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Routine level VI neck dissection may be helpful to improve the survival of thyroid cancer patients. Meanwhile, complication could be decreased by improving surgical skills.