Revision central neck dissection

Recurrent well-differentiated thyroid cancer is an important problem and incidence is on the rise. Recurrence preferentially involves lymph nodes of the central and lateral neck. Detection and surveillance of such disease is commonly performed via serum thyroglobulin and high-frequency neck ultrasonography. Management options include: active surveillance, local ablative techniques, RAI, external beam radiotherapy, and surgery. The gold standard of care is surgical removal in the form of comprehensive neck dissection. Although revision surgery in the neck does carry increased risk, the use of well-established techniques can decrease this risk and allow surgeons to safely and effectively treat patients with recurrent neck disease.