[The significance of middle thyroid vein in the VI region neck dissection].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of VI region neck dissection in thyroid papillary carcinoma surgery and to prompt the key matters in such surgery.


METHODS
Retrospectively analyzed 213 cases of thyroid papillary carcinoma treated by Renji ENT Department from 2003 to 2009. Under each case, we implemented the VI region neck dissection after marking recurrent laryngeal nerve with middle thyroid vein.


RESULTS
Among the 213 cases of thyroid papillary carcinoma performed with VI region neck dissection, 82 cases were positive, 3 cases incurred recurrent laryngeal nerve injury with 2 cases of permanent RLN injury and 2 case of temporary injury, 2 cases showed permanent Hypoparathyroidism, and 6 cases showed temporary Hypoparathyroidism. In 3 cases the metastasis of neck lymph arose within 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Marking recurrent laryngeal nerve with middle thyroid vein not only helps to lower the possibility of injuring RLN and parathyroid glands in thyroidectomy, but also makes the VI region neck dissection an feasible treatment for thyroid papillary carcinoma.
Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, 200001, China.
Minfei
M
Qian
Jiadong
J
Wang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D012009:Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000098:blood supply; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D014680:Veins / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055815:Young Adult