title: Factors predisposing to chyle leakage following thyroid cancer surgery without lateral neck dissection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to assess the clinicopathologic features of patients with chyle leakage following thyroid cancer surgery without lateral neck dissection and to evaluate the factors associated with chyle leakage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Of 3137 patients who underwent thyroid surgery between January 2006 and December 2007, 2314 patients (73.8%) satisfied our inclusion criteria. Patients were divided into those with (group I, n = 14) and without (group II, n = 2300) chyle leakage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the 2 groups in clinicopathologic features including age, body mass index, extent of thyroidectomy, pathologic type, tumor size, multiplicity, capsular invasion, and coexisting thyroiditis. In univariate and multivariate analyses, male sex, age >45 years, and number of harvested central nodes were significantly associated with chyle leakage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  If extensive central compartment node dissection is needed, meticulous dissection is required, especially in male patients, and aged >45 years, even without lateral neck dissection.
authors.affiliation: Thyroid Cancer Center, Department of Surgery, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Sang
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Bup-Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hang-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Cheong Soo
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002913:Chyle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy