Abstract:ObjectiveTo analyze the causes of reoperation for papillary thyroid carcinoma and explore the significance of standardization on the initial operation.MethodsClinical data of 355 patients with reoperation of thyroid papillary carcinoma in our departments were collected. The initial surgical methods for the thyroid gland and lateral cervical area were analyzed and compared with those of their operations.ResultsOf all the 355 patients, 17 received reoperation of both thyroid gland and lateral cervical area. 273 patients had reoperation of thyroid gland. Among them, 140 had received standardized initial thyroidectomy (standard group) with an average duration from initial operation to reoperation of(60.6±54.9)months. The mean duration was(54.1±41.2)months for 133 cases in the nonstandard group, and the duration difference between the two groups was statistically significant (t=0.340, P=0.022). 99 cases had reoperation of the lateral cervical area, including 56 with standardized initial neck dissection (standard group) and 43 with unstandardized initial dissection (nonstandard group). The average durations from initial operation to reoperation of the standard and nonstandard group were(39.3±33.8)months and(26±24.1)months respectively, and the duration difference was statistically significant (t=0.178, P=0.041).ConclusionsThe main reasons for reoperation in patients with thyroid papillary carcinoma are scope inadequacy of initial thyroidectomy and/or range insufficiency in initial lateral neck dissection. For patients with unilateral unifocal papillary thyroid carcinoma, the initial surgical procedure should be at least unilateral lobectomy plus isthmectomy with ipsilateral centralcompartment neck dissection. Bilateral lobectomy with unilateral centralcompartment neck dissection should be adopted in the initial surgical treatment for the others. In patients with neck metastasis, the initial lymph node dissection should include at least level II (IIa), III, and IV.