Long-term Results of Observation vs Prophylactic Selective Level VI Neck Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma at a Cancer Center.

IMPORTANCE

The indication for prophylactic central neck dissection in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is controversial.

OBJECTIVE

To compare long-term results of observation vs prophylactic selective level VI neck dissection for PTC.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 812 patients with PTC who were treated from January 1, 1996, through January 1, 2007, at the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology of A. C. Camargo Cancer Center. A group of 580 consecutive patients with previously untreated PTCs and without lymph node metastasis were eligible for the study. We collected and analyzed retrospective data from February 1, 2012, through August 31, 2013.

INTERVENTIONS

One hundred two patients (group A) underwent total thyroidectomy with elective central neck dissection; 478 patients (group B) underwent total thyroidectomy alone.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Absence of difference in rates of locoregional control and rates of major complications in group A.

RESULTS

In group A, the rate of occult metastatic disease was 67.2%. Patients in group A exhibited higher rates of temporary hypocalcemia (46.1% vs 32.2%; P = .004) and permanent hypoparathyroidism (11.8% vs 2.3%; P < .001). We also found a significantly higher incidence of temporary (11.8% vs 6.1%; P = .04) and permanent (5.9% vs 1.5%; P = .02) recurrent laryngeal nerve dysfunction in group A. The overall recurrence rate at level VI was 1.9%.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Although the risk for occult lymph node metastasis reached 67.2% in a selected group of patients, elective central neck dissection for patients with PTC increased the risk for complications and did not contribute to a decrease in local recurrence rates.