Central lymphodissection in primary thyroid cancer

The experience in performing central lymphodissection (CLD) for 225 patients with primary thyroid cancer (PTC) was analyzed. Group I comprised 100 patients with PTC pT1-4aN1b who underwent surgery with CLD (level VI) and cervical lymphodissection (levels II-V). Group II consisted of 125 patients with PTC pT1-4aN0-1a who underwent surgery with CLD only (level VI). Out of them, there were 63 who had curative CLD and 62 patients had preventive CLD. Level VI lymph node metastases were observed in 91 % of Group I patients and in 50 % of Group II patients. Postoperative transitional hypocalcemia was observed in 23 % and 13.6 % of the patients, respectively. Cervical lymph node metastases occurred in 12 % and 6.4 % of Group I and Group II patients, respectively requiring cervical lymphodissection.