title: Cervical neck dissection without drainage in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review the safety of thyroidectomy combined with cervical neck dissection without drainage, in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two groups were defined depending on whether cervical neck dissection was or was not performed (groups one and two, respectively).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group one included 153 patients with central neck dissection and 52 patients with central and lateral neck dissection. Group two included 121 patients. Post-operative drainage was not used in either group. Overall, 17 patients (5 per cent) developed post-operative haematoma and/or seroma: 12 patients (6 per cent) in group one and 5 patients (4 per cent) in group two. There were no major bleeding episodes; only minor bleeding or seroma was encountered, not requiring surgical intervention. Overall, 91 per cent of patients had a post-operative stay of 1 day. The number of peri-operative local complications and length of stay did not differ significantly between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Thyroidectomy plus cervical neck dissection without drainage is safe and effective in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma.
authors: Department of General Surgery, Hotel Dieu de France Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Saint-Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon. dbabboud@yahoo.fr
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Abboud
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Tannoury
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Sleilaty
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Daher
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Abadjian
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Ghorra
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006406:Hematoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D049291:Seroma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult