Minimally-invasive endoscopically-assisted neck dissection for lateral cervical metastases of thyroid papillary carcinoma

Traditional open operations for lateral neck dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma leave an unsightly scar. We report complete lateral neck dissection and thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma using an endoscopically-assisted approach through a small incision, and evaluate its feasibility and safety. Between March 2010 and January 2013, 6 patients with no definite metastases to the lymph nodes at levels II-IV, and 20 with definite metastases to the lymph nodes at levels II-V were selected. Thyroidectomy, dissection of the central compartment (level VI), and ipsilateral level II-IV and II-V neck dissections were done through a small incision in the neck. The steps of endoscopic lateral neck dissection were similar to those of conventional operations. The mean operating time for the whole procedure was 3.57 hours (range 2.5 - 5.0). It was successful in all patients and there were no serious complications or serious blood loss. A total of 21 patients had lymph node metastases in the central and lateral zones. The mean yield of lymph nodes was 38.6 (range 16-61). There was no evidence of residual or recurrent disease at follow-up, and the cosmetic result was excellent. Minimally invasive, video-assisted comprehensive neck dissection for metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma is feasible and safe, and has excellent cosmetic results. Further studies with a larger number of patients and long-term follow-up are needed to verify its oncological validity.