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Management of Central Neck Nodes in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

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Controversies in Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer

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Abstract

The role of prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) in patients with low risk, clinically node negative (cN0) papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is controversial. In this chapter, the best available evidence regarding the management of lymph nodes in the central compartment of the neck is analyzed. Rates of recurrence and complications were reviewed for patients with cN0 PTC treated with or without pCND. The important findings are that there is a potential for a small reduction in recurrence following pCND, but with higher rates of temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism. In the absence of a clear oncologic benefit for pCND, the higher rate of complications outweigh the potential small reduction in recurrence for patients with low risk, cN0 PTC. As a result, pCND does not appear to be justified for treatment of low risk PTC.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MatSu Surgical Associates, MatSu Regional Medical Center, Palmer, AK, USA

    Iuliana Bobanga

  2. Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Iuliana Bobanga & Christopher R. McHenry

  3. Department of Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Christopher R. McHenry

  4. Division of General Surgery, MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Christopher R. McHenry

Authors
  1. Iuliana Bobanga
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  2. Christopher R. McHenry
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Correspondence to Christopher R. McHenry .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Sanziana A. Roman

  2. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Wen T. Shen

  3. Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA

    Julie Ann Sosa

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Bobanga, I., McHenry, C.R. (2023). Management of Central Neck Nodes in Papillary Thyroid Cancer. In: Roman, S.A., Shen, W.T., Sosa, J.A. (eds) Controversies in Thyroid Nodules and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37135-6_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-37135-6_11

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  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-37135-6

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