Background Although lymphatic metastasis does not affect overall survival for patients with
differentiated thyroid carcinoma, locoregional control can be improved with cervical
lymphadenectomy. The major morbidity of neck dissection (ND) for the management of
regional metastases is spinal accessory (cranial nerve XI) dysfunction. To avoid this
complication, some surgeons have advocated a limited ND. Objective To establish the
patterns of lateral cervical metastases in differentiated thyroid carcinoma and the role of …