Brazilian journal of otorhinolaryngology
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Braz J Otorhinolaryngol · Mar 2019
Meta AnalysisProphylactic central neck dissection and local recurrence in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: a meta-analysis.
For papillary thyroid microcarcinoma patients, the reported incidence of lymph node metastasis is as high as 40%, and these occur mainly in the central compartment of the neck. Because these metastases are difficult to detect using ultrasonography preoperatively, some authors advocate routine central neck dissection in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma patients at the time of initial thyroidectomy. ⋯ For patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, thyroidectomy plus prophylactic central neck dissection is a safe and efficient procedure and it results in lower recurrence rate. Since the evidences are of low quality (non-randomized studies), further randomized trials are needed.