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Updated: Jun 3, 2026
Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Routine central compartment lymph node dissection for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma
David I Kutler1, Audrey D Crummey, William I Kuhel
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA. dik2002@med.cornell.edu
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.
