Safety of thyroidectomy combined with central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma: a meta-analysis / 中华普通外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the safety of central lymph node dissection with total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Methods A meta-analysis on the data of suitable seven clinical researches was performed using the Mantel-Haenszel method and the risk difference was calculated.Results Seven studies with a total of 1524 patients were eligible for inclusion, 620 were with totalthyroidectomy plus central lymph node dissection and 904 with thyroidectomy alone. There was a significant increased risk of temporary hypocalcaemia ( P = 0. 03 ) and temporary vocal cord palsy ( P = 0. 01 ) when central lymph node dissection was performed in addition to a thyroidectomy. However, the risk of permanent hypocalcaemia( P = 0. 32 ) and permanent vocal cord palsy (P = 0. 75 ) has no statistical difference between the two groups. Conclusion Central neck dissection added to thyroidectomy does not increase rate of permanent morbidity in thyroid cancer patients.