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L. Brunaud Thyroid cancers are the most common endocrine cancer. Cervical lymph node metastases are observed in 20 to 60% of patients with papillary thyroid cancer. In 2008, no prospective randomized study has defined whether prophylactic central neck dissection should be performed during initial surgery for papillary thyroid cancer. Prophylactic lymph node dissection remains controversial. Pros and cons for routine lymph node dissection of the central cervical compartment are discussed in this review of the literature which includes data from international and French consensus conferences.