title: Complication rates of central compartment dissection in papillary thyroid cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The benefits of central compartment dissection (CCD) in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) are still debatable and should be weighed against its potential risks. We aim to compare the complication rates in total thyroidectomy with and without CCD for patients with PTC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study on prospectively collected data from our cancer registry over a 15-year period. Patients with pathologically proven PTC treated with total thyroidectomy alone or with CCD were included. CCD was performed at the operating surgeon's discretion. A total of 105 patients were included and divided into two groups for analysis: group A - total thyroidectomy alone (51 patients, 49%) and group B - total thyroidectomy with CCD (54 patients, 51%). The operative complications between the two groups were then evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 6.9% and 0.98% patients had transient and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsies, respectively. About 19.0% and 2.9% patients had transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism, respectively and 27.6% patients had parathyroid glands found to be included in the resected specimen. Complication rates in terms of transient or permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy or hypoparathyroidism did not differ significantly between groups A and B. Within group B, 41 patients had unilateral CCD and 12 had bilateral CCD. Transient hypoparathyroidism was more frequent in bilateral CCD (50% versus 12.2%, P = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total thyroidectomy with prophylactic unilateral CCD is a safe procedure for PTC without added complication rates compared with total thyroidectomy alone. It is recommended for patients with PTC and clinically negative neck lymph nodes.
authors.affiliation: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wai-Yin Wilson
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Tam-Lin
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Chi-Yee
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Siu-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: carcinoma; lymph node excision/methods; papillary/surgery; thyroid neoplasms/surgery; treatment outcome