Morbidity of central compartment dissection for differentiated thyroid carcinoma of the follicular epithelium

• Published in: European annals of otorhinolaryngology, head and neck diseases Vol. 130; no. 5; pp. 245 - 249
• Main Authors: Boute, P, Merlin, J, Biet, A, Cuvelier, P, Strunski, V, Page, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: France Elsevier Masson SAS 01-11-2013
• Subjects: Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - blood; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - pathology; Adenocarcinoma, Follicular - surgery; Adult; Aged; Calcium - blood; Carcinoma, Papillary - blood; Carcinoma, Papillary - pathology; Carcinoma, Papillary - surgery; Central compartment dissection; Dissection - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Hypoparathyroidism; Hypoparathyroidism - etiology; Laryngoscopy; Lymph Node Excision - methods; Lymph node metastasis; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Staging; Otolaryngology; Postoperative Complications - blood; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis; Retrospective Studies; Risk; Thyroid carcinoma; Thyroid Neoplasms - pathology; Thyroid Neoplasms - surgery; Thyroidectomy - methods; Vocal Cord Paralysis - etiology; Lymph node metastasis; Central compartment dissection; Recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis; Hypoparathyroidism; Thyroid carcinoma
• ISSN: 1879-7296; 1879-730X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anorl.2012.10.004

Summary Objectives To study the morbidity of central compartment dissection in differentiated thyroid carcinoma of the follicular epithelium. Material and method A retrospective study of 83 patients (61 patients operated by total thyroidectomy and 22 patients operated by total thyroidectomy and central dissection) was performed. Postoperative serum calcium and laryngeal mobility were studied and statistically compared (Chi2 test, Fisher's exact test). Results No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the incidence of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis or permanent hypoparathyroidism. In contrast, transient hypoparathyroidism was more frequent among patients undergoing thyroidectomy associated with central dissection ( P = 0.02). Conclusion Central compartment dissection associated with total thyroidectomy does not increase the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis or permanent hypoparathyroidism, but is responsible for an increased rate of transient hypoparathyroidism.