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Updated: Feb 22, 2026
Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Papillary thyroid carcinoma of the isthmus: Total thyroidectomy or isthmusectomy?
Ioannis Vasileiadis1, Georgios Boutzios2, Maria Karalaki2
1Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Venizeleio - Pananeio General Hospital, Herakleion, Greece; Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Brighton, United Kingdom.
Background:
Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common histological type of differentiated thyroid malignancy. Although the majority of PTC is located in the thyroid lobes, a small minority arise from the thyroid isthmus. The reported incidence of PTC arising in the thyroid isthmus ranges from 1% to 9.2%, probably reflecting variation in the study populations.
Purpose:
This review aimed to analyze the data about the optimal management of PTC arising in the isthmus.
Data Sources:
We performed a systematic review of PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials to identify eligible studies analyzing surgical management strategies and published outcomes of isthmic PTC.
Results:
Most reports support that papillary thyroid carcinomas originating in the isthmus are more likely to have multiple foci, invasion of thyroid capsule and adjacent tissues with increased rate of central node involvement, compared to carcinomas located in other parts of the thyroid.
Conclusions:
The extent of the surgical resection, the role of prophylactic central neck dissection and the extent of central neck dissection in surgery for isthmic PTC remain highly controversial. However, total thyroidectomy and central node dissection may be an appropriate treatment for these patients.
