Routine central compartment lymph node dissection for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma

BACKGROUND: The role of routine central compartment neck dissection in papillary thyroid cancer is controversial. METHODS: A retrospective medical record review was conducted of 83 patients with papillary thyroid cancer who received either total or hemithyroidectomy and central compartment lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: Positive central compartment node metastases were found in approximately equal rates between older and younger patients (38.9% and 42.6%, respectively; Fisher's exact test; p = .82). The primary tumor was a microcarcinoma (1 cm or less) in 32 patients (38.5%). Positive central compartment node metastases were detected in 31.3% of patients with microcarcinomas, compared with 47.1% of patients with tumors greater than 1 cm. CONCLUSION: Younger and older patients had approximately equal rates of central compartment lymph node metastasis. There was also a similar rate of metastasis between microcarcinomas and larger tumors. Our results document that central compartment lymph node dissection is a safe operation and may decrease the need for further operations.