Function Integrity of Neck Anatomy in Thyroid Surgery

Recent trends in the management of patients with low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma who have a nonsuspicious or cytologically benign contralateral nodule call into question the need for routine total thyroidectomy. Although the lobectomy for the unilateral thyroid cancer with contralateral benign nodules is sufficient treatment, some of the patients might suffer from the anxiety of the residual benign thyroid nodule and tend to choose total thyroidectomy, which might be overtreatment. Thermal ablation has been proven to be effective in achieving nodule shrinkage and being also free from major complications. In our institution, intraoperative RFA was a proposed alternative strategy to treat the contralateral benign nodules after the thyroid lobectomy for the malignant lobe, which was found to have a better quality of life on anxiety, physiological health, social family, psychological and sensory mentions with a considerable complication rate.

Thyroid lobectomy was performed with a standard technique of fine capsular en bloc dissection and resection, from inferior pole to superior pole. Superior parathyroid glands were identified and preserved in situ, inferior parathyroid glands were protected in situ or autotransplanted in the sternocleidomastoid muscle according to three certain types based on their blood supply and location. All the patients underwent lobectomy received ipsilateral therapic central compartment neck dissection. After the thyroid lobectomy, the contralateral benign thyroid nodule was treated with intraoperative thermal ablation. The "hydrodissection technique" was used during the ablation process to prevent recurrent laryngeal nerve, esophageal and other important structures from being destroyed by heat energy.

Thyroid lobectomy was performed with a standard technique of fine capsular en bloc dissection and resection, from inferior pole to superior pole. Superior parathyroid glands were identified and preserved in situ, inferior parathyroid glands were protected in situ or autotransplanted in the sternocleidomastoid muscle according to three certain types based on their blood supply and location. All the patients underwent lobectomy received ipsilateral therapic central compartment neck dissection.

After the thyroid lobectomy, the contralateral benign thyroid nodule was treated with intraoperative thermal ablation. The "hydrodissection technique'' was used during the ablation process to prevent recurrent laryngeal nerve, esophageal and other important structures from being destroyed by heat energy.

Transient or persistent hypoparathyroidism confirmed by serum calcium levels was less than the lower limit at examination center and had symptoms of hypocalcemia. Postoperative vocal cord paralysis was defined as fixed vocal cord mobility with laryngofiberoscopic examination.

All patients were requested to answer the THYCA-QoL questionnaire, the scores of which were recorded.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients diagnosed with unilateral thyroid carcinoma and contralateral benign nodule confirmed by preoperative ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology; Patients with contralateral nodules ≤ 20mm and located in the thyroid gland; Patients with clinical node-negative cervical compartment at palpation and neck ultrasound. Exclusion Criteria: Previous history of neck surgery Previous history of neck radiation therapy