Objective: To assess the incidence of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and permanent hypoparathyroidism after central neck lymph node compartment (level VI) reoperation.
Methods: Retrospective study including 18 patients who had undergone reoperative central compartment dissection between 1999 and 2008 for recurrent thyroid carcinoma or lymph node metastasis. All patients had been previously treated by total thyroidectomy for a thyroid cancer in another institution.
Results: Twenty-two central neck compartment reoperations were performed. Four patients needed a second reoperation for carcinoma recurrence. All patients had histologic evidence of metastatic lymph nodes or recurrent thyroid carcinoma. Two patients developed permanent hypoparathyroidism and four patients had postoperative permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. All of them had normal preoperative parathyroid and laryngeal function. In three cases, the recurrent laryngeal nerve disorder was intentionally resected for oncologic reasons. The fourth case occurred in a patient who needed a second reoperation with a sternotomy and mediastinal dissection.
Conclusion: A central lymph node compartment reoperation can be performed with minimal morbidity when the recurrent laryngeal nerve is not invaded: 5.2% resulted in permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis and 9% in permanent hypoparathyroidism. Careful identification and exposure of the inferior laryngeal nerve in a previously non dissected area is recommended.