Research development of prophylactic central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid cancer / 国际外科学杂志

ABSTRACT

Papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common malignant neoplasm originating from the thyroid gland and has an excellent prognosis.But cervical lymph node metastases are common and the most common sites of metastases are the central lymph nodes of the neck (level Ⅵ).While therapeutic central lymph node dissection for involved lymph nodes is needed in our nation and others,the controversial topic is whether routine prophylactic central lymph node dissection in patients without evidence of lymph node metastasis should be performed in patients with PTC.The author reviewed the research development of prophylactic central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid cancer in the article.