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Updated: Jul 18, 2026
Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Visualization in the Treatment of Locally Advanced Thyroid Cancer
Published on: June 9, 2023
[Significance of level VI neck dissection in surgical operation for thyroid cancer]
Ming Song1, Wen-Kuan Chen, Fu-Jin Chen
1State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, P. R. China.
Background & Objective:
Patients with thyroid cancer often come along with level VI lymph nodal metastasis. Neck dissection, which includes level VI, is routinely performed on cN1 patients, but whether cN0 patients need routine level VI neck dissection is uncertain. This study was to explore the rule of level VI lymph nodal metastasis in thyroid cancer and the significance of level VI neck dissection in surgical operation for thyroid cancer.
Methods:
Clinical data of 130 patients with thyroid cancer, who received level VI neck dissection from Jan. 1988 to Jan. 2000, were analyzed retrospectively.
Results:
Of the 130 patients, 97 had level VI lymph node metastasis, 14 (10.8%) had post-operative complications, including 4 cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Multivariate survival analysis indicated that level VI lymph nodal metastasis was correlated to the survival of thyroid cancer patients.
Conclusions:
Routine level VI neck dissection may be helpful to improve the survival of thyroid cancer patients. Meanwhile, complication could be decreased by improving surgical skills.
