RESUMO
Objective To investigate the risk factors of central lymph node metastasis and significance of prophylactic central lymph node dissection for clinical N0 (cN0) patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).Methods The clinical data of 315 patients with cN0 PTC in Department of General surgery,the Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University from Jan.2012 to Jan.2014 were analyzed retrospectively.Results (Iumor size,infiltration of thyroid capsule,and tumor number were associated with central lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 PTC(P＜0.05),and the high risk factors of central lymph node metastasis were infiltration of thyroid capsule and multiple lesions (P＜0.05);()The overall complication rate was 3.17％ (10/315),the rate of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis was 0.63％ (2/315),and the rate of transient hypoparathyroidism was 2.54％ (8/315).All patients with complications recovered after treatment.No patient developed permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis or hypoparathyroidism;()The follow-up time was 6 to 30 months,and 2 cases were lost.No patient developed local tumor recurrence,distant metastasis,or death.Conclusions The high risk factors of central lymph node metastasis in patients with cN0 PTC were infiltration of thyroid capsule and multiple lesions.No patient developed local tumor recurrence,distant metastasis,or death.It is preferable and necessary to perform prophylactic central lymph node dissection in patients with cN0 PTC.