A Nod to the Nodes: An Overview of the Role of Central Neck Dissection in the Management of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

Lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer is common and associated with an increased risk of locoregional recurrence (LRR). Although therapeutic central neck dissection is well established, prophylactic central node dissection (pCND) for microscopic occult nodal involvement is controversial and recommendations are based on low-level evidence. The potential benefits of pCND such as reducing LRR and re-operation, refining staging, and improving surveillance are enthusiastically debated and the decision to perform pCND must be weighed up against the increased risks of complications.
(Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)