The effect of intraoperative neuromonitoring on the number of lymph nodes excised and recurrence when applied during neck dissection in cases of papillary thyroid cancer

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of neuromonitoring on the number of lymph nodes (LNs) removed when applied during neck dissection. METHODS: A total of 166 patients receiving neck dissection due to papillary thyroid cancer were separated into 2 groups (monitoring group, n = 76; non-monitoring group, n = 90). RESULTS: The number of LNs dissected was observed to be statistically significantly higher in the monitoring group (P = 0.001), and the difference between the groups in the number of positive LNs was significant (P = 0.031). There was seen to be a negative relationship between the number of positive LNs dissected and recurrence (r = –0.404, P = 0.005). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative neuromonitoring during neck dissection makes a positive contribution to the prevention of the development of recurrence by increasing the number of LNs excised and the number of metastatic LNs.