ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the causes of thyroid carcinoma reoperation and to explore the tim-ing, surgical pattern of reoperation .Methods The clinicopathologic data of 127 patients undergoing reoperation for differentiated thyroid carcinoma ( DTC) from Sep 2006 to Sep 2011 were retrospectively analyzed .Results The residual rate of first thyroid operation was 54.3%, and the lymphatic metastasis rate was 31.5%.The rate of temporary and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury after reoperation was 3.1%(4/127)and 1.6%(2/127) respectively .The rate of temporary and permanent hypoparathyroidism was 4.7%( 6/127 ) and 0.8%( 1/127 ) respectively .No recurrence of thyroid carcinoma or metastasis of cervical lymph node was reported after reopera -tion during a follow-up of 6 months to 6years.Conclusions Reoperation should be performed according to the initial operative and pathological findings in DTC patients who underwent local resection .The rate of complication in the reoperation , recurrence of thyroid carcinoma and metastasis of cervical lymph node can be effectively re -duced in meticulous and experienced hands .