Bulletin du cancer
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The first aim of this study was to explore the risk factors that were associated with central lymph node metastasis (CLNM) in patients with clinically node-negative papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (cN0 PTMC) after prophylactic central neck dissection (PCND). The second aim was to evaluate the influence of PCND on migration of TNM staging and risk stratification (RS) in patients with cN0 PTMC. ⋯ CLNM is highly prevalent in cN0 PTMC. Age <45 years and multifocality are independent risk factors of CLNM in cN0 PTMC patients. PCND can identify CLNM, which allows more accurate TNM staging/RS and may have an important impact on postoperative treatment in cN0 PTMC patients.