Background: Determinants for adequate lymph node yield (LNY) in prophylactic central neck dissection (pCND) for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) remain unclear. We aimed to determine factors affecting LNY in pCND.
Methods: Of 230 patients, 109 (47.4%) had total thyroidectomy and unilateral pCND. A specimen of ≥ 6 central lymph nodes (CLNs) was considered adequate. Factors such as patient clinicopathologic features, specimen dimensions, and pathologists' experience were compared between those with LNY < 6 (n = 52) and LNY ≥ 6 (n = 57). A multivariate analysis was conducted to identify independent factors for LNY ≥ 6.
Results: Age, sex, presentation, body mass index, tumor characteristics, TNM stages, MACIS score, and pathologist's experience were not significant determinants for LNY ≥ 6. In the univariate analysis, the length (P = 0.021), width (P = 0.047), thickness (P = 0.024), and pN1a (P = 0.042) were significant determinants but in the multivariate analysis, the length (OR = 1.486 (95% CI: 1.053-2.097), P = 0.024) was the only independent factor for LNY ≥ 6. Postoperative vocal cord palsy, hypoparathyroidism, stimulated thyroglobulin and recurrences were similar between LNY <6 and ≥ 6.
Conclusions: Length (or the longest measured dimension) of the fresh CLN specimen was the only factor assuring LNY ≥ 6. Surgical complications and short-term outcomes appeared similar between LNY <6 or ≥ 6.
Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.