Neck Dissection for Thyroid Cancer - Do I Need It?

Neck dissections are advanced operations for the removal of lymph nodes of the neck. If you have a thyroid cancer, there are two types of neck dissections that may or may not be indicated for you as discussed in this video by Dr Gary Clayman. Neck dissections are not necessary or indicated for all thyroid cancers. The two most common types of neck dissections for thyroid cancer are the 1) Central Neck Dissection and 2) Lateral Neck Dissection. The central neck dissection (also called paratracheal area, involves the area around your trachea, esophagus, and under the thyroid gland. The lateral neck dissection involves the lymph nodes of the side of the neck. The need for a lateral neck dissection for thyroid cancer must be determined prior to surgery via an expert high resolution ultrasound. This requires excellent equipment and an expert sonographer so that no cancer in the lymph nodes is missed. Lateral neck dissection does NOT involve a large slash along the neck – the incision is in the low collar area and cosmetically very acceptable. You can see testimonials on our website that show you how wonderfully the scar can be hidden

The purpose of a thyroid cancer neck dissection is to remove the lymph nodes that contain thyroid cancer and also those that are at risk of having thyroid cancer. Dissection of the central neck is dependent on the surgeon’s observation (during the operation) of the extent of the thyroid cancer. The surgeon should remove any lymph nodes under the thyroid that may be at risk for cancer spread. It is imperative for your surgeon to understand how thyroid cancer behaves to correctly assess the central (paratracheal) area to prevent leaving lymph nodes that already contain thyroid cancer. Ask your surgeon what their thyroid cancer surgery looks like, how often they perform neck dissection, and how often they perform thyroid surgery. Neck dissection for thyroid cancer is very different from the neck dissection for other conditions that ENT doctors frequently do for other head and neck cancers. Make sure your thyroid surgery is done by a thyroid cancer surgery expert.