Lymphadenectomy in differentiated thyroid carcinoma

Differentiated thyroid carcinoma accounts for 90% of all thyroid cancers and occurs as papillary carcinoma in 90% of cases. It was shown as this is characterized by an excellent long-term prognosis, although in follow-up long series, were described recurrence rates up to 35%. Although in the past has not been attributed prognostic significance to the lymph nodes, in the last decade has shown how these can affect the rate of locoregional recurrence of differentiated thyroid carcinoma. This renewed interest in lymph node metastatic disease has prompted a shift in surgical treatments more aggressive, with a view to achieving a low incidence of locoregional recurrence. Analyzing the more recent guidelines formulated at the international level, we can highlight how we gradually consolidated the role of prophylactic central compartment lymphadenectomy in the surgical treatment of patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma. The aim of this treatment, in fact, is not only to reduce the mortality of patients, but to obtain an adequate staging, facilitate radiotherapy treatment, obtain undetectable thyroglobulin levels, avoiding the need for repeated reiterventi, made more simple follow-up. All these objectives can be achieved by careful surgery. Total thyroidectomy associated with prophylactic lymphadenectomy of the central compartment was found to achieve these objectives, although in the absence of data from randomized trials, its role remains controversial.