Is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma? A follow-up study of more than 10 years

BackgroundTherapeutic central neck dissection (CND) is strongly recommended for patients with clinically node-positive (cN1) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the role of prophylactic central neck dissection (PCND) remains controversial for clinically node-negative (cN0) PTC, particularly...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Zeng-Gui Wu, Wen-Ting Zheng, Li-Jie Chen, Fang-Shuang Zhu, Zhao-Sheng Ma, Fei-Lin Cao, Bin-Bin Cui, Bo-Jian Xie, Xing-Qiang Yan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Endocrinology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1597661/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849321681101783040
author Zeng-Gui Wu
Wen-Ting Zheng
Li-Jie Chen
Fang-Shuang Zhu
Zhao-Sheng Ma
Fei-Lin Cao
Bin-Bin Cui
Bo-Jian Xie
Xing-Qiang Yan
author_facet Zeng-Gui Wu
Wen-Ting Zheng
Li-Jie Chen
Fang-Shuang Zhu
Zhao-Sheng Ma
Fei-Lin Cao
Bin-Bin Cui
Bo-Jian Xie
Xing-Qiang Yan
author_sort Zeng-Gui Wu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundTherapeutic central neck dissection (CND) is strongly recommended for patients with clinically node-positive (cN1) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the role of prophylactic central neck dissection (PCND) remains controversial for clinically node-negative (cN0) PTC, particularly in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). To better elucidate the benefits and disadvantages, we conducted a retrospective analysis with a follow-up of more than 10 years.MethodsA total of 377 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study between April 2011 and March 2015. 146 patients underwent total thyroidectomy alone (TT group), while 231 patients underwent total thyroidectomy and prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection (TT+PCND group). Considering the low risk of recurrence, all patients did not receive radioiodine treatment. Post-surgical pathological and preoperative clinical courses, local recurrence, postoperative complications, and follow-up data were all collected.ResultsIn the TT+PCND group, 82 patients (35.3%) had occult lymph node metastasis and a higher risk of postoperative complications, including lymphatic leakage, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hypoparathyroidism, and accidental parathyroidectomy. Hypoparathyroidism and accidental parathyroidectomy showed a significantly increased risk (p = 0.005, p = 0.049). However, there were no differences in survival and recurrence rates between the two groups.ConclusionsRoutine prophylactic central neck dissection is unnecessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, as the postoperative complications are significant, while the benefits remain unclear.
format Article
id doaj-art-3231e79337e94211aa5ce55e8eea4d11
institution Kabale University
issn 1664-2392
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Endocrinology
spelling doaj-art-3231e79337e94211aa5ce55e8eea4d112025-08-20T03:49:41ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Endocrinology1664-23922025-05-011610.3389/fendo.2025.15976611597661Is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma? A follow-up study of more than 10 yearsZeng-Gui WuWen-Ting ZhengLi-Jie ChenFang-Shuang ZhuZhao-Sheng MaFei-Lin CaoBin-Bin CuiBo-Jian XieXing-Qiang YanBackgroundTherapeutic central neck dissection (CND) is strongly recommended for patients with clinically node-positive (cN1) papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the role of prophylactic central neck dissection (PCND) remains controversial for clinically node-negative (cN0) PTC, particularly in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). To better elucidate the benefits and disadvantages, we conducted a retrospective analysis with a follow-up of more than 10 years.MethodsA total of 377 consecutive patients were enrolled in this study between April 2011 and March 2015. 146 patients underwent total thyroidectomy alone (TT group), while 231 patients underwent total thyroidectomy and prophylactic central compartment lymph node dissection (TT+PCND group). Considering the low risk of recurrence, all patients did not receive radioiodine treatment. Post-surgical pathological and preoperative clinical courses, local recurrence, postoperative complications, and follow-up data were all collected.ResultsIn the TT+PCND group, 82 patients (35.3%) had occult lymph node metastasis and a higher risk of postoperative complications, including lymphatic leakage, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hypoparathyroidism, and accidental parathyroidectomy. Hypoparathyroidism and accidental parathyroidectomy showed a significantly increased risk (p = 0.005, p = 0.049). However, there were no differences in survival and recurrence rates between the two groups.ConclusionsRoutine prophylactic central neck dissection is unnecessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, as the postoperative complications are significant, while the benefits remain unclear.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1597661/fullpapillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC)prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND)postoperative complicationsclinically node-negative (cN0)total thyroidectomy (TT)
spellingShingle Zeng-Gui Wu
Wen-Ting Zheng
Li-Jie Chen
Fang-Shuang Zhu
Zhao-Sheng Ma
Fei-Lin Cao
Bin-Bin Cui
Bo-Jian Xie
Xing-Qiang Yan
Is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma? A follow-up study of more than 10 years
Frontiers in Endocrinology
papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC)
prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND)
postoperative complications
clinically node-negative (cN0)
total thyroidectomy (TT)
title Is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma? A follow-up study of more than 10 years
title_full Is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma? A follow-up study of more than 10 years
title_fullStr Is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma? A follow-up study of more than 10 years
title_full_unstemmed Is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma? A follow-up study of more than 10 years
title_short Is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma? A follow-up study of more than 10 years
title_sort is prophylactic central neck dissection necessary for patients with clinically node negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma a follow up study of more than 10 years
topic papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC)
prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND)
postoperative complications
clinically node-negative (cN0)
total thyroidectomy (TT)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fendo.2025.1597661/full
work_keys_str_mv AT zengguiwu isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years
AT wentingzheng isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years
AT lijiechen isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years
AT fangshuangzhu isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years
AT zhaoshengma isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years
AT feilincao isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years
AT binbincui isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years
AT bojianxie isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years
AT xingqiangyan isprophylacticcentralneckdissectionnecessaryforpatientswithclinicallynodenegativepapillarythyroidmicrocarcinomaafollowupstudyofmorethan10years