title: Feasibility of super-selective neck dissection for indeterminate lateral neck nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Therapeutic lateral compartment neck dissection is recommended for cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma with biopsy-proven lymph node metastasis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of super-selective neck dissection for patients with clinically suspicious lymph node metastasis not confirmed by biopsy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 620 patients treated for papillary thyroid carcinoma between 2008 and 2010, 34 had suspicious lymph node enlargement in the lateral neck and underwent total thyroidectomy with super-selective neck dissection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metastatic disease was confirmed in 38.2% patients (13 of 34) with indeterminate lymph nodes identified by preoperative CT and/or ultrasonography who underwent super-selective neck dissection. Most harvested lymph nodes were located at level IV. There was no recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 31.6 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with clinically suspicious lateral neck nodes that are not confirmed by biopsy may be good candidates for super-selective neck dissection, which had minimal morbidity and did not compromise oncologic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
authors.forename: Heejin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Wonjae
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Woo-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Soon-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: locoregional neoplasm recurrences; lymphatic metastasis; neck dissection; papillary thyroid carcinoma; thyroidectomy