Dissection of the VI cervical lymph collector for papillary thyroid cancer

Abstract

Objective. To assess the expediency and necessity of implementing the dissection of the central cervical lymph nodes (group VI) in patients with papillary thyroid cancer. Materials and methods. The results of preoperative examination, surgical treatment and its follow-up were evaluated in 210 patients, who along with thyreoidectomy, underwent dissection of the central cervical lymph nodes (group VI). Results. It was established that for papillary thyroid cancer, a high frequency of cervical lymph node metastasis is typical. During the preoperative examination, (US and cytological study), metastases were detected in 23.5 % of patients, and while pathomorphological study of the removed central neck cellular tissue in 47.4 % more. Therefore, preventive dissection of the central cervical lymph nodes (VI group) is worthwhile. Though expansion of the volume of operations in patients with papillary thyroid cancer at the expense of dissecting the central cervical lymph nodes in addition to the thyroid gland, leads to insignificant elevation of the number of complications but in the remote period (35 years), volume expansion of operations has no negative impact on the indicators of physical and psychical components of the life quality. Conclusions. The obtained objective information regarding the presence or absence of metastatic lesion of the cervical lymph nodes permits to ground the process staging in papillary thyroid cancer and form treatment tactics.