Ipsilateral Lateral Neck Research Articles

Comparison of actual prognosis between unilateral and bilateral central neck dissection in modified radical neck dissection patients with no clinical central lymph node metastasis: a retrospective cohort study.

This study aimed to evaluate the long-term prognosis of contralateral central neck dissection (CND) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with ipsilateral lateral neck metastasis. We compared the actual recurrence rate according to the extent of CND-ipsilateral and contralateral sides. A total of 708 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and concomitant ipsilateral or bilateral CND with ipsilateral lateral neck dissection between January 1997 and December 2022 at Samsung Medical Center were retrospectively analyzed. The median follow-up time was 118 months. Locoregional recurrence was observed in 26 patients (7.9%) and 30 patients (7.9%) in the ipsilateral and bilateral CND groups, respectively. There were 6 contralateral recurrence cases (1.8%) in the ipsilateral CND group and 6 cases (1.6%) in the bilateral CND group. There was only 1 contralateral central neck recurrence in the ipsilateral CND group. The incidence of hypocalcemia (P = 0.007) was higher in the bilateral CND group compared to the ipsilateral CND group. Surgeons may consider performing only unilateral CND-the side where tumor is for therapeutic purposes to reduce surgical complications.

Anatomical Patterns of Nodal Spread in Unilateral Papillary and Medullary Thyroid Cancer.

Background: Skip metastases, node metastases in the lateral neck sparing the ipsilateral central neck, challenge the current concept of central-to-lateral lymphatic spread. This study sought to delineate patterns of central and lateral neck involvement in unilateral papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) and medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). Methods: This was a retrospective correlative analysis of nodal patterns in surgical specimens from patients with unilateral PTC or MTC who had undergone thyroidectomy with at least ipsilateral central neck dissection between November 1994 and January 2024 at a tertiary referral center. Results: Included were 833 patients with unilateral PTC and 640 patients with unilateral MTC. Simultaneous presence or absence of node metastases was noted in ipsilateral central and lateral neck compartments in 76.6-78.1% of patients with PTC (both node positive in 27.0-54.7% and both node negative in 23.4-49.6%) and 77.3-80.0% of patients with MTC (both node positive in 26.6-33.2% and both node negative in 44.1-53.4%). Only one ipsilateral neck compartment was node positive in 21.9-23.4% of patients with PTC and 20.0-22.7% of patients with MTC. The ipsilateral central, but not the ipsilateral lateral compartment, was node positive in 8.8-16.9% with PTC and 8.6-8.8% of patients with MTC, whereas the ipsilateral lateral, but not the ipsilateral central compartment, was node positive in 6.5-13.1% with PTC and 11.3-14.1% with MTC. Ipsilateral lateral neck involvement sparing the ipsilateral central neck was 1.5-2 times more frequent in patients with node positive MTC than patients with node positive PTC (24.2-25.2% vs. 12.9-17.1%). Greater numbers of node metastases in the ipsilateral central neck compartment were associated with more frequent involvement of the ipsilateral lateral, contralateral central, and contralateral lateral neck compartments. Thyroid tumor diameter intensified nodal spread without changing nodal spread patterns. Conclusions: These histopathological findings, which need to be interpreted in light of the respective tumor biology, offer an unprecedented glimpse at the metastatic patterns of unilateral PTC and MTC. Customizing neck dissection to the patterns of nodal spread, considering operative status (initial vs. reoperative surgery) and experience with neck dissection, may require more frequent concomitant dissections of ipsilateral central and ipsilateral lateral neck compartments.

Clinical evaluation of pulsatile tinnitus: history and physical examination techniques to predict vascular etiology

BackgroundPulsatile tinnitus (PT) may be due to a spectrum of cerebrovascular etiologies, ranging from benign venous turbulence to life threatening dural arteriovenous fistulas. A focused clinical history and physical examination...

Comparing nodal with primary tumor desmoplasia uncovers metastatic patterns in multiple endocrine neoplasia 2B.

While primary tumor desmoplasia is a powerful biomarker of node metastases in sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (MTC), information for hereditary MTC is sparse. This proof-of-concept study, comprising 3 consecutive children with multiple endocrine neoplasia 2B, evaluated simultaneously the metastatic behavior of multiple primary thyroid tumors of disparate size and extent of desmoplasia within patients. Altogether, MTC typically involved the ipsilateral central neck before spreading to the ipsilateral lateral and the contralateral neck. Medullary thyroid cancer in the upper thyroid lobe leaped the ipsilateral central neck to invade the ipsilateral lateral neck. Unlike the desmoplasia-positive 6-mm high-grade and 7-mm low-grade primary thyroid tumors, the desmoplasia-negative 8-, 11-, and 16-mm low-grade primary thyroid tumors did not spread to ipsilateral neck nodes. With extranodal growth, the extent of nodal desmoplasia was greater than with intranodal growth. This proof-of-concept study suggests that primary tumor desmoplasia is an equally powerful biomarker of node metastasis in hereditary MTC.

High grade medullary thyroid carcinoma predicts greater lymph node burden in the ipsilateral lateral neck

High grade medullary thyroid carcinoma predicts greater lymph node burden in the ipsilateral lateral neck

Axillary Node Metastases of Medullary Thyroid Cancer: A Hallmark of Terminal Disease.

Little is known about axillary node metastasis of medullary thyroid cancer (MTC). To address this, a comparative study of patients with and without axillary node metastases of MTC was conducted. Among 1215 consecutive patients with MTC, 482 patients had node-negative MTC and 733 patients node-positive MTC. Among the 733 patients with node-positive MTC, 4 patients (0.5%) had axillary node metastases, all of which were ipsilateral. Patients with axillary node metastases had 5.7-6.9-fold more node metastases removed, both at the authors' institution (medians of 34.5 vs. 5 metastases; p=0.011) and in total (medians of 57 vs. 10 metastases; p=0.013), developed more frequently distant metastases (3 of 4 vs. 178 of 729 patients, or 75 vs. 24%; p=0.049), specifically to bone (2 of 4 vs. 67 of 729 patients, or 50 vs. 9%; p=0.046) and brain (1 of 4 vs. 4 of 729 patients, or 25 vs. 0.5%; p=0.027), and more often succumbed to cancer-specific death (3 of 4 vs. 52 of 729 patients, or 75 vs. 14%; p=0.005). Altogether, patients with axillary node metastases revealed 4-8-fold more node metastases in the ipsilateral lateral neck (medians of 11 vs. 3 metastases; p=0.021) and in the ipsilateral central neck (medians of 8 vs. 1 metastases; p=0.079) patients without axillary node metastases. Cancer-specific survival of patients with vs. patients without axillary node metastases of MTC was significantly shorter (means of 41 vs. 224 months; plog-rank<0.001). These findings show that patients with axillary node metastases of MTC have massive metastatic dissemination with poor survival.

Study to Evaluate the Pattern of Nodal Distribution in Papillary Thyroid Cancer.

Among the thyroid cancers, papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is the most common with lymphatic metastasis. It has the propensity to spread to the level II-VI lymph nodes in a predictable manner. We evaluated the pattern of nodal distribution at different levels of neck in papillary thyroid cancer in this Observational Prospective study. Total 41 patients of PTC (Papillary thyroid cancer) were included in the study. 36 out of them were diagnosed as PTC by FNAC and underwent total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection, while 5 patients were histologically confirmed cases of PTC on previous hemithyroidectomy and underwent completion thyroidectomy and central neck dissection .Patients with T3/T4 stage or N1 underwent lateral neck dissection also. Clinicopathological factors such as age, sex, tumor stage, nodal metastasis and extracapsular invasion, were evaluated. Lymph node metastasis was noted in 21 patients (51.2%) and all these patients had central (level VI) lymph node involvement. Among 21 patients, pathological ipsilateral lateral neck metastasis was noted in 6 patients (28.57%) at level II, 10 patients (47.62%) at level III and 8 patients (38.10%) at level IV. Only 5 patients (23.81%) had metastasis at level V. Extracapsular invasion was observed in 10 (24.4%) patients. We concluded that patients with PTC show higher rates of metastasis at central neck (level VI) and are not easily detected on clinical examination or by USG due to low sensitivity but are sensitive and specific for lateral neck nodes in late stages . Thus, ipsilateral selective neck dissection should be considered with total thyroidectomy and central neck dissection in presence of clinically or radiologically evident lateral lymph nodes (preoperatively) and in T3, T4 stage (late stages) tumors.

Comparison of Lobectomy vs Total Thyroidectomy for Intermediate-Risk Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma With Lymph Node Metastasis

Surgical treatment of patients with papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) by either lobectomy or total thyroidectomy (TT) has long been a topic of debate, especially for patients with intermediate-risk PTC. To compare recurrence-free survival (RFS) for patients with PTC and lymph node metastasis after lobectomy vs TT. This retrospective cohort study included a review of patients with PTC treated from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2017. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed between patients treated with lobectomy and TT. This study involved a single institute in a cancer referral center. Enrolled were adult patients (aged 18-75 years) with unilateral PTC and ipsilateral clinical lateral neck metastasis (cN1b). Patients with the following characteristics were excluded: a lymph node yield less than 20, primary tumor size greater than 4 cm, gross extrathyroidal extension, metastatic lymph node size greater than 3 cm, and distant metastasis. Data analysis was performed from April 1 to April 30, 2022. Lobectomy and TT. The primary outcome was the association between extent of surgery and RFS, assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression models. A total of 946 patients with PTC (mean [SD] age, 37.0 [12.1] years, 630 female individuals [66.6%]) were analyzed. Lobectomy (624 [66.0%]) was negatively correlated with the frequencies of older age (≥65 years, 17 [2.7%]), female sex (393 [63.0%]), multifocality (132 [21.2%]), minor extrathyroidal extension (259 [41.5%]), number of metastatic lymph nodes (median [range], 9 [6-14] nodes), and radioactive iodine ablation (0). After PSM with treatment period and potential prognostic factors (age, sex, primary tumor size, multifocality, minor extrathyroidal extension, number of lymph node metastases and lymph node ratio), 265 pairs of patients were available for analysis. After a median (range) follow-up of 60 (9-150) months in the lobectomy group and 58 (8-161) months in the TT group, 21 (7.9%) and 17 (6.4%) structural recurrences were identified in the lobectomy and TT groups, respectively. Lobectomy was not associated with significantly compromised 5-year RFS rate (lobectomy, 92.3% vs TT, 93.7%; adjusted hazard ratio, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.58-2.11; P = .77). Power analysis indicated that the test had 90% power to detect a more than 4.9% RFS difference. No significant difference in RFS was observed between patients treated with TT and radioactive iodine ablation (n = 75) and their counterparts (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.14-2.41; P = .46). Results of this cohort study suggest that patients with PTC and lymph node metastasis had a similar RFS after lobectomy vs those who had TT. If radioactive iodine ablation is not going to be performed, lobectomy may be an effective alternative option.

Occult contralateral central neck metastasis in papillary thyroid carcinoma with preoperatively documented ipsilateral lateral neck metastasis

BackgroundThis study was conducted to evaluate risk factors and long-term prognosis of contralateral central neck metastasis (CCNM) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) patients with ipsilateral lateral neck metastasis. We present clinical evidence to aid in surgical decision-making regarding the extent of central neck dissection (CND), focusing on separation between ipsilateral and contralateral sides. MethodsA total of 379 PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and concomitant bilateral central neck dissection with ipsilateral lateral neck dissection (LND) at a single institution was retrospectively included between January 1997 and December 2015. ResultsThe median follow-up time was 83.2 months, the mean age was 44.3 years, and the mean tumor size was 1.5 cm. Among the study sample, 266 patients were female (70.2%) and 113 (29.8%) were male. Of 379 patients, CCNM was present in 34.6%. In multivariate analysis, male sex (adjusted OR = 2.46, p = 0.002), bilaterality (adjusted OR = 2.58, p = 0.004), number of metastatic ipsilateral central lymph nodes (adjusted OR = 1.15, p = 0.002), number of metastatic lateral lymph nodes (adjusted OR = 1.48, p < 0.001), and three-level metastasis (adjusted OR = 2.46, p = 0.012) were identified as risk factors of CCNM. Overall recurrence occurred in 6.0% and 11.5% of patients in the CCNM (-) group and CCNM (+) group, respectively. In addition, contralateral recurrence was observed in 1.2% patients and 0.8% patients in the CCNM (-) group and CCNM (+) group, respectively. However, CCNM did not significantly increase risk of recurrence (adjusted HR = 1.01, p = 0.981). ConclusionsAlthough the probability of pathological CCNM is not negligible, CCNM was not associated with higher risk of recurrence. This study suggest that central neck dissection may be limited to the ipsilateral side, and the result regarding prognosis of CCNM may help to avoid bilateral CND so that it could have potential to minimize unnecessary surgery-related complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve(RLN) injury or hypoparathyroidism.

Total thyroidectomy with therapeutic level II-IV neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma: level VI recurrence patterns.

Lateral and central compartments cervical lymph nodes metastases are common among patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Elective level VI neck dissection during thyroidectomy and lateral neck dissection (LND) for the treatment of PTC with lateral compartment lymph node metastases is controversial because of the uncertain benefit in clinical outcomes and increased risks of surgical morbidity. We aimed to determine the potential benefit of elective level VI neck dissection in patients with cN1 papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) by investigating the rate and pattern of locoregional recurrence in PTC patients who underwent total thyroidectomy and therapeutic lateral node dissection (LND; levels II-IV) without elective level VI dissection. A retrospective cohort study. Data on demographics, clinical presentation and workup, intraoperative and pathological report, postoperative course, adjuvant therapy, recurrence patterns, and overall survival were retrieved from the medical charts of patients who underwent thyroid surgery in our hospital between January 2006 and December 2017. A total of 1415 thyroidectomies were performed during the study period, of which 802 (56.67%) were for PTC. Of those PTC patients, 228 (28.42%) also underwent LND (levels II-VI) during the same thyroidectomy procedure. Thirty-four (14.91%) of those 228 patients, underwent total thyroidectomy with therapeutic lateral ND II-IV without elective level VI ND. During the follow-up period, five (14.7%) of the latter cohort were diagnosed with recurrence in central neck (level VI) lymph nodes, and four of them (11.7%) were diagnosed with ipsilateral recurrence at level VI. Our results revealed 11.7% rate of clinically significant recurrent disease in ipsilateral level VI which, in our opinion, does not justify routine prophylactic level VI ND dissection when the ipsilateral lateral neck is operated for metastases.

Lymphatic mapping with SPECT-CT for evaluation of contralateral drainage in lateralized oropharyngeal cancers using an awake injection technique.

Risk of contralateral nodal metastases in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is currently based on clinical risk factors. We propose lymphatic mapping with single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) for tumor-specific delineation of lymphatic drainage to guide treatment. Retrospective review of lymphatic drainage patterns in cT1-2 OPSCC and contralateral cN0 neck with a nonoperative, awake injection of 99 m-Tc sulfur colloid and SPECT-CT. Ten patients were reviewed. Primary sites included tonsil (n = 8, 80%) and tongue base (n = 2, 20%). All patients tolerated awake injections with no complications. Nine patients (90%) demonstrated satisfactory migration of radiotracer to neck node(s) with seven (78%) to the ipsilateral lateral neck, one (11%) to the ipsilateral lateral neck and retropharynx, and one (11%) to bilateral lateral neck nodes. Characterization of lymphatic drainage in OPSCC is feasible using a nonoperative injection technique and SPECT-CT. Drainage to the contralateral neck is rare, warranting further study to tailor treatment appropriately.

A Case of Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma Involving the Ipsilateral Parotid and Lateral Neck

A Case of Angioimmunoblastic T-cell Lymphoma Involving the Ipsilateral Parotid and Lateral Neck

Treatment of lateral neck papillary thyroid carcinoma recurrence after selective lateral neck dissection

There is a paucity of data regarding optimal treatment options and outcomes for recurrent disease after lateral neck dissection in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. Retrospective review of patients who underwent either percutaneous ethanol injection or surgery for first-time ipsilateral recurrences after ipsilateral lateral neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma was performed. Follow-up data were available for 54 patients with recurrences in 57 lateral necks treated by either percutaneous ethanol injection (n = 32) or surgery (n = 25). Tumor burden at the time of lateral neck recurrence differed between the groups including the largest lymph node diameter (mean: 13 mm vs 18 mm, P < .01) and the mean number of metastatic lymph nodes identified on ultrasound (1.3 vs 1.9, P = .04). Each modality alone achieved similar estimated rates of disease control at 36 months (75% for percutaneous ethanol injection and 74% for surgery, P = .8) with similar number of reinterventions (1.8 for percutaneous ethanol injection, 1.6 for surgery, P = .6). Both ethanol ablation and surgery can achieve disease control in the majority of patients with recurrences after ipsilateral lateral neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma. Ethanol ablation, when used for treatment of a single small lymph node, can result in outcomes that are similar to reoperative surgery for larger and multiple lymph nodes.

Significance of neck dissection for the treatment of clinically-evident medullary thyroid carcinomas: A systematic review

ObjectiveThe survival benefit of prophylactic lateral neck dissection in medullary thyroid carcinomas remains unclear; thus, recent clinical guidelines have deferred the recommendation of lateral neck dissection. This review is to assess the role of lateral neck dissection in treatment of clinically overt medullary thyroid carcinoma. MethodsA meta-analysis was performed on full-text publications written in English sourced using Embase and Medline databases. Publications with data regarding lateral neck dissection and clinical outcome were included. ResultsThe frequently performed central neck dissection was significantly correlated with a higher biological cure rate (p=0.047) and lower structural recurrence rate (p=0.002). The frequency of ipsilateral lateral neck dissection was significantly negatively correlated with the rate of died of disease (p=0.017). ConclusionThe frequency of lateral neck dissections and rate of died of disease had a reverse correlation suggesting that prophylactic lateral neck dissection has a significant impact on survival.

Histology-proven recurrence in the lateral or central neck after systematic neck dissection for medullary thyroid cancer.

To delineate risk factors for, and examine temporal patterns of, histology-proven recurrent medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) after compartment-oriented surgery. Multivariate Cox regression on overall, node, and soft tissue infiltrate recurrence per previously dissected neck compartment. Mean follow-up for the 203 (and 158) patients with central (and ipsilateral lateral) neck dissection was 56.1 months. On multivariate Cox regression, tumor size > 20 mm predicted overall and node recurrence in the central neck, whereas extranodal growth predicted overall and node recurrence in the ipsilateral lateral neck. Extrathyroidal extension alone predicted soft tissue infiltrate recurrence in the central neck, and extranodal growth alone soft tissue infiltrate recurrence in the ipsilateral lateral neck. When analyses were restricted to patients not biochemically cured after initial surgery, only extranodal growth predicted overall and node recurrence in the dissected neck compartments. Patients not biochemically cured, specifically those with extranodal growth at the initial operation, carry greater risks of node recurrence.

Predictive Factors of Skip Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer

BackgroundSkip metastasis is defined as metastasis incident to the lateral compartment without involvement of the central compartment, and is generally unpredictable in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). The present study aimed to investigate the frequency and predictor value of skip metastasis in PTC patients.Material/MethodsA total of 355 patients diagnosed with thyroid cancer who had received a prior complete thyroidectomy with bilateral central neck and ipsilateral lateral neck lymph node dissection were enrolled in this study. The clinicopathological and ultrasound features were analyzed. A univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to identify the risk factors of skip metastasis.ResultsThe frequency of skip metastasis was 12.4% (44/355). The PTC patients with skip metastasis exhibited fewer lymph node metastasis, which was more commonly detected in tumor size ≤1 cm (OR 9.354; p=0.001; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.865–26.735), tumors located in upper pole (OR 3.822; p<0.001; 95% CI 1.935–7.549), without a well-defined margin (OR 2.528; p=0.016; CI 1.191–5.367), and extrathyroidal extension (OR 2.406; p=0.013; CI 1.691–4.367).ConclusionsSkip metastasis was common in PTC. The PTC patients with a tumor size ≤1.0 cm, located in the upper pole, without a well-defined margin and extrathyroidal extension should be carefully evaluated for skip metastasis.

Medullary thyroid cancer: strategy, pitfalls and technical aspects with emphasis on remedial surgery

Medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor that has specific diagnostic and therapeutic requireents. Currently, imaging tools show great limits to localize all residual MTC foci. Non-invasive imaging is helpful but far from perfect for guiding the re-exploration for loco regional residual MTC. The therapeutic approach is different between sporadic and hereditary MTC. In order to obtain the biochemical and anatomical control the first surgical resection is critical. Calcitonin (Ctn) rate used for MTC recurrence detection as serum marker is definite. Yet it poses a unique challenge notwithstanding its ability in detecting microscopic subclinical disease; it is not clear if patients with evident biological signs of residual MTC should be closely observed when MTC is finally found out through different investigations that localize it, or if a different aggressive approach is necessary including central neck dissection, whether or not associated with ipsilateral or bilateral lateral neck dissection. In all phases of the disease, the co-treatment by physicians with experience in MTC therapy should be sought.

Facial pain associated with cardiac origin

BackgroundIschemic heart disease manifests as pain on the left side, in the retrosternal or the precordial region, with subsequent radiation to the ipsilateral shoulder, face, and cervical region. Less frequently, it may manifest solely as face pain. Case DescriptionA 57-year-old man sought care at the Massachusetts General Hospital Oral and Maxillofacial Pain Center with a symptom of pain in the mandibular left posterior region, in the medial aspect of the ipsilateral eye, and in the left side of the neck. The pain had started approximately 8 months previously as a mild, constant dull ache in the mandibular left posterior region. However, it became severe in intensity and sharp in quality and radiated toward the medical aspect of the ipsilateral eye and lateral neck region after intense physical activity. Results from comprehensive diagnostic evaluation and a series of diagnostic tests suggested that the facial pain was associated with cardiovascular disease. There was complete resolution of pain symptoms after the patient received appropriate pharmacotherapy. Practical ImplicationsAssociation of pain with exercise and termination of pain with rest and the presence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease necessitate a thorough investigation of rare and fatal causes of facial pain.

Pattern of neck recurrence after lateral neck dissection for cervical metastases in papillary thyroid cancer

The objective of this study was to determine the rate and pattern of nodal recurrence in patients who underwent a therapeutic, lateral neck dissection (LND) for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) with clinically evident cervical metastases and to determine if there was any correlation between the extent of initial dissection and the rate and pattern of neck recurrence. A total of 3,664 patients with PTC treated between 1986 and 2010 at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center were identified from our institutional database. Tumor factors, patient demographics, extent of initial LND, and adjuvant therapy were recorded. Patterns of recurrent lateral neck metastases by level involvement were recorded and outcomes calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 484 patients had an LND for cervical metastases; 364 (75%) had a comprehensive LND (CLND) and 120 (25%) had a selective neck dissection (SND). The median duration of follow-up was 63.5months. As expected, patients with CLND had a greater number of nodes removed as well as a greater number of positive nodes (P<.001). There was no difference in overall lateral neck recurrence-free status (CLND 94.4% vs SND 89.4%, P=.158), but in the dissected neck, the ipsilateral lateral neck recurrence-free status was superior in the CLND patients (97.7% vs 89.4%, P<.001). Patients with clinically evident neck metastases from PTC managed by CLND have lesser rates of recurrence in the dissected neck compared with patients managed by SND. SND should only be done in highly selected cases with small volume disease.

Prognostic Implications of Lymph Node Yield in Central and Lateral Neck Dissections for Well-Differentiated Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between lymph node yield (LNY) from central (CND) and lateral (LND) neck dissections and risk of recurrence in patients undergoing primary surgery for well-differentiated papillary thyroid carcinoma (WDPTC). Clinical data were reviewed from all patients with biopsy-proven WDPTC who underwent primary total thyroidectomy with CND or LND at the authors' institution from 2005 to 2009. Patient demographics and tumor characteristics were obtained, and clinical data with at least five-year follow-up were used. Within the CNDs and LNDs, total number of nodes removed (LNY), total positive nodes removed, and the ratio of positive lymph nodes to LNY were determined. One hundred fifty-two patients were included in the study, with average follow-up of 69 months. Of 125 patients who underwent CND, 20 had central neck disease recurrence. The LNY of patients with central neck recurrence was significantly less than those who had no recurrence (2.5 vs. 10.3; p < 0.0001). Of 71 patients who underwent LND, 23 had ipsilateral lateral neck disease recurrence. The LNY of patients with lateral neck recurrence was significantly less than those who did not recur (10.5 vs. 24.6; p < 0.0001). Higher rates of recurrence were associated with smaller LNY in both groups. For both groups, lower LNY remains predictive of recurrence on multivariate analysis controlling for pT stage, pN stage, American Joint Committee on Cancer stage, and radioactive iodine treatment. Higher LNY in CNDs and LNDs is associated with lower rates of papillary thyroid carcinoma recurrence in the central and lateral neck. To minimize the risk of recurrence and the need for secondary therapy with revision surgery and/or radiation, surgeons should perform thorough, compartment-oriented CNDs and LNDs when nodal surgery is undertaken.