title: Video-assisted selective lateral neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT) for thyroid benign nodules and central neck dissection (CND) for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) have been applied, presently, we attempted to perform video-assisted selective lateral neck dissection (VASLND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six consecutive PTC patients with unilateral tumor (size <4.0 cm) and suspected lymph node metastasis at level III, IV, or IIa were included from March 2009 to January 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VASLND was successfully performed in all 26 PTC patients. The mean operative time was 46 min (range 26-75 min) on VASLND. No major complications occurred. Average postoperative hospital stay was 3.6 days (range 2-8 days). The mean number of removed nodes was 7.3 (range 4-12) in central neck and 8.3 (range 3-21) in lateral compartment. Positive yield amounted to a mean value of 2.6 (range 0-5) and 3 (range 0-6), respectively. No persistent or recurrent disease was observed in any patient during a follow-up period. The cosmetic result was excellent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our initial experience demonstrates that VASLND is feasible and safe for selected PTCs, with superior appearance and less pain. Nevertheless, larger series and comparative studies with longer follow-up could be necessary to confirm its oncological effectiveness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200233, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Youben
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xianzhao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Bomin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Chunlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Zhili
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007902:Length of Stay; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D061646:Operative Time; D010147:Pain Measurement; D061214:Patient Safety; D018579:Patient Selection; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000379:methods*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult