Practice patterns among thyroid cancer surgeons: implications of performing a prophylactic central neck dissection

Outcome of Cervical Lymph Nodes Dissection for Thyroid Cancer with Nodal Metastases: A Southeast Asian 3-Year Experience

Introduction

Therapeutic nodal dissection is still the mainstay of treatment for patients with lymph node metastases in many centres. The local data, however, on the outcome of therapeutic LND remains limited. Hence, this study aims to inform practice by presenting the outcomes of LND for thyroid cancer patients and our experience in a tertiary referral centre.

Methods

This is a single-centre retrospective observational study in a Malaysian tertiary endocrine surgery referral centre. Patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with lymph node dissection between years 2013 and 2015 were included and electronic medical records over a 3-year follow-up period were reviewed. The outcomes of different lymph node dissection (LND), including central neck dissection, lateral neck dissection, or both, were compared.

Results

Of the 43 subjects included, 28 (65.1%) had Stage IV cancer. Among the 43 subjects included, 8 underwent central LND, and 15 had lateral LND while the remaining 20 had dissection of both lateral and central lymph nodes. Locoregional recurrence was found in 16 (37.2%) of our subjects included, with no statistical difference between the central (2/8), lateral (7/15), and both (7/20). Postoperative hypocalcaemia occurred in 7 (16.3%) patients, and vocal cord palsy occurred in 5 (11.6%), whereas 9 patients (20.9%) required reoperation. Death occurred in 4 of our patients.

Conclusion

High recurrence and reoperative rates were observed in our centre. While the routine prophylactic LND remains controversial, high risk patients may be considered for prophylactic LND. The long-term risk and benefit of prophylactic LND with individualised patient selection in the local setting deserve further studies.

Disparities in the Care of Differentiated Thyroid Cancer in the United States: Exploring the National Cancer Database

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) treatment is multifaceted, and may be influenced by socio-economic factors. The goal of this study is to examine disparities in DTC treatment. DTC patients from 1998 to 2012 were identified using the National Cancer Database. DTC was identified in 262,041 patients. The mean age was 48.2. The majority of patients (52%) received care at Comprehensive Community Cancer Programs (CCCPs). Total thyroidectomy was less common at Community Cancer Programs (CCPs) [odds ratio (OR): 0.735; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.707–0.764), and more common at academic centers (OR: 1.129; 95% CI: 1.102–1.157) compared with CCCP. A central neck dissection was performed most often at academic center (20.6%) versus CCP (10.0%). Black patients were less likely to undergo central neck dissection compared with white patients (OR: 0.468; 95% CI: 0.452–0.484). Patients more likely to receive radioactive iodine were white compared with black patients (hazard ratio: 0.833; 95% CI: 0.806–0.861), privately insured compared with uninsured patients (hazard ratio: 1.272; 95% CI: 1.210–1.341), and patients treated at CCCP. Disparities exist in DTC treatment. Individuals at risk for under-treatment are black patients, uninsured patients, and those treated at CCP. As the Affordable Care Act changes access to health care, future studies will be needed to readdress disparities.

Role of prophylactic central neck dissection in clinically node-negative differentiated thyroid cancer: assessment of the risk of regional recurrence

Prophylactic central neck dissection in clinically node-negative patients remains controversial. The aim of this multicenter retrospective study was to determine the rate of metastases in the central neck in clinically node-negative differentiated thyroid cancer patients, to examine the morbidity, and to assess the risk of regional recurrence in patients treated with total thyroidectomy with concomitant bilateral or ipsilateral central neck dissection compared with those undergoing total thyroidectomy alone. 258 consecutive clinically node-negative patients were divided into three groups according to the procedures performed: total thyroidectomy only (group A), total thyroidectomy with concomitant ipsilateral central neck dissection (group B), and total thyroidectomy combined with bilateral central neck dissection (group C). Mean operative time and postoperative stay were shorter in Group A (p < 0.01). The incidence of postoperative transient hypoparathyroidism was lower in Group A (p = 0.03), whereas no differences in the incidence of permanent hypoparathyroidism and nerve palsy were present. Postoperative radioactive iodine administration was higher in group B and particularly C (p = 0.03) compared with group A. There were no statistically significant differences in terms of regional recurrence. Differentiated thyroid cancer has a high rate of central lymph node metastasis even in clinically node-negative patients; in the present study there was no statistically significant difference in the rates of locoregional recurrence between the three modalities of treatment. Total thyroidectomy appears to be an adequate treatment for clinically node-negative differentiated thyroid cancer. Prophylactic central neck dissection might be considered for differentiated thyroid cancer patients with large tumor size or extrathyroidal extension.