The Safety and Availability of Video-Assisted Modified Radical Neck Dissection in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma

To evaluate the safety and availability of video-assisted modified radical neck dissection In papillary thyroid carcinoma. We retrospectively analyzed 77 cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma patients with video-assisted modified radical neck dissection from 2006.06.01 to 2015.05.01 at the thyroid surgery department of the First Hospital of Jilin University. 1n order to evaluate the safety and availability of this operation we analyzed statistically its complications and prognosis. 77 patients included in the study were divided into four groups by the surgical procedures as following: I. Only lateral neck dissection. II: Total thyroidectomy plus lateral neck dissection. m: Thyroidectomy plus central and lateral neck dissection. IV: Lateral plus central neck dissection. The average incidence ofpostoperative complications was 42.3%. The incidence of postoperative complications in groupmwas up to 58%, II group followed by up to 57.1%. The lowest incidence of complications in the group I was only 12.5%. Among complications, the temporary hypoparathyroidism was the most common (40.3%). No one case happened with permanent complications. No operative mortality. All four groups were followed up for 1 to 108 months. One case (1.3%) developed local recurrence. The video-assisted modified radical neck dissection in papillary thyroid carcinoma is safe and effective with less permanent complications. This operation does not only preserve the neck functions and retain notch beauty, but also does not reduce the safety and availability ofsurgical treatment. However, if with central neck dissection, especially in patients with total thyroidectomy, the incidence of complications will increase. The most common complication IS hypoparathyroidism, so intraoperative parathyroid protection IS particularly significant.