Feasibility of super-selective neck dissection for indeterminate lateral neck nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Therapeutic lateral compartment neck dissection is recommended for cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma with biopsy-proven lymph node metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of super-selective neck dissection for patients with clinically suspicious lymph node metastasis not confirmed by biopsy.


METHODS
Among 620 patients treated for papillary thyroid carcinoma between 2008 and 2010, 34 had suspicious lymph node enlargement in the lateral neck and underwent total thyroidectomy with super-selective neck dissection.


RESULTS
Metastatic disease was confirmed in 38.2% patients (13 of 34) with indeterminate lymph nodes identified by preoperative CT and/or ultrasonography who underwent super-selective neck dissection. Most harvested lymph nodes were located at level IV. There was no recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 31.6 months.


CONCLUSION
Patients with clinically suspicious lateral neck nodes that are not confirmed by biopsy may be good candidates for super-selective neck dissection, which had minimal morbidity and did not compromise oncologic outcomes.
['Kim|Heejin|H|', 'Jin|Young Ju|YJ|', 'Cha|Wonjae|W|', 'Jeong|Woo-Jin|WJ|', 'Ahn|Soon-Hyun|SH|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D000369:Aged, 80 and over D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary D018572:Disease-Free Survival D005240:Feasibility Studies D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006801:Humans D008198:Lymph Nodes D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D037981:Neck Dissection D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local D012189:Retrospective Studies D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms D013965:Thyroidectomy D055815:Young Adult
neck dissection papillary thyroid carcinoma thyroidectomy locoregional neoplasm recurrences lymphatic metastasis