Prophylactic central lymph node dissection informs the decision of radioactive iodine ablation in papillary thyroid cancer.

Background: Prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) is controversial. We aimed to investigate if prophylactic CLND aids risk stratification and contributes to the decision for postoperative RAI ablation.

Methods: Patients undergoing thyroidectomy for PTC and prophylactic CLND were identified from an endocrine surgical unit database.