To investigate the role of prophylactic dissection of lymph node posterior to right recurrent laryngeal nerve (LN-prRLN) of non-minimal papillary carcinoma in the right lobe of thyroid gland.

A retrospective analysis of three hundred and ninety-five patients was conducted of non-minimal papillary thyroid carcinoma in the right lobe from January 2013 to December 2014 of Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital. The patients were divided into prophylactic dissection group (205 cases) and non-prophylactic dissection group (190 cases). Central compartment lymph node (CCLN) metastasis and LN-prRLN was analyzed in the two groups.

CCLN metastasis was found in 53.17% of prophylactic dissection group, and in 51.58% of non-prophylactic dissection group, with no significant difference (χ²=3.34, P=0.345). In prophylactic dissection group, 14.15% of LN-prRLN was found invasive, which was lower than other parts of central compartment lymph node district (53.17%, χ²=0.57, P=0.001). Averagely, (6.7±1.4) CCLNs were found in prophylactic dissection group, whereas (5.2±1.4) in non-prophylactic dissection group, which was significantly different (t=0.38, P=0.036). Neither permanent hoarse nor hypoparathyroidism was found in the two groups, but each group had 5 cases of transient hoarse with no statistically significant differences. Transient hypoparathyroidism was 17.07% (35/205) and 9.47% (18/190) in prophylactic dissection group and non-prophylactic dissection group, which had significant difference (χ²=0.42, P=0.027).

LN-prRLN metastasis of non-minimal papillary carcinoma is not uncommon, while prophylactic dissection of LN-prRLN can increase detected positive metastatic rate of CCLN.