In thyroid cancer patients, lymph node dissection includes a comprehensive removal of all the target nodal basins: anterior cervical compartment (level VI) and the superior mediastinal nodes that can be reached via cervical incision (level VII) in CND, and levels IIa-Vb in LND. Clearance of those levels without including the enveloping fasciae in the specimen is referred to hereafter as Standard Neck Dissection (SND), as it is the most common technique applied for thyroid tumors. In Fascial Neck Dissection, the comprehensive clearance of the target basins is achieved by following the planes of coalescence of the cervical fascial layers. Those are avascular and enable the removal of the target nodes en bloc with their investing fascial layers.~The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the outcomes between fascial and standard approach in N1b PTC patients that underwent surgery for N1b papillary thyroid cancer. The primary objective was to achieve a significantly higher nodal yield by applying the fascial neck dissection technique and reduce rates of early loco-regional recurrence. Secondary objectives were the evaluation of short and long-term post-operative complications and the cosmetic result.
Optimal surgical technique for neck dissection (LND) in thyroid carcinoma remains a subject of debate. Fascial ND (FND) implies the removal of the superficial and middle layers of the deep cervical fascia en bloc with lymph-nodes containing fibro-fatty tissue (levels IIa-Vb and VI-VII for cN1b patients). This retrospective cohort study was designed to compare FND with standard, non-fascial, selective ND (SND).