ESTIMation of the ABiLity of Prophylactic Central Compartment Neck Dissection to Modify Outcomes in Low-risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
ESTIMation of the ABiLity of Prophylactic Central Compartment Neck Dissection to Modify Outcomes in Low-risk Differentiated Thyroid Cancer
Prospective randomized open phase III non-inferiority trial in cT1bT2N0 papillary thyroid
 carcinoma comparing: total thyroidectomy alone (experimental group) versus total
 thyroidectomy + Prophylactic Neck Dissection PND (reference group).

 Pre-registered patients will be randomized before surgery for tumors with class-6 cytology
 (Bethesda) or in the operating room after confirmation of malignancy by frozen section
 analysis for tumors with class-5 cytology.
Inclusion Criteria:

 1. Thyroid nodule measuring 11-40 mm on ultrasound (cT1bT2)

 -  AND with fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) cytology in favor of "papillary
 thyroid carcinoma" (Type 6 according to the Bethesda classification (Appendix 2)

 -  OR with FNAB cytology "suspicious for malignancy" (Type 5 according to the
 Bethesda classification). In this latter case, randomization will be performed if
 confirmation of papillary carcinoma on intraoperative frozen section analysis

 2. cN0: absence of lymph nodes suspicious for malignancy on preoperative ultrasound
 performed by the center's designated radiologist according to a standardized report

 3. Absence of a medical contra indication to performing a total thyroidectomy with or
 without bilateral prophylactic neck dissection of the central compartment

 4. Women of childbearing potential should have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine)
 before any radioiodine administration. Sexually active patients must agree to use an
 effective method of contraception or to abstain from sexual activity during the study
 and for at least 6 months after last dose of radioiodine.

 5. Patient affiliated to a social security regimen or beneficiary of such regimen

 6. Patients age ≥ 18 years old, french-speaking

 7. Patients should understand, sign and date the written informed consent form prior to
 any protocol specific procedures. Patients should be able and willing to comply with
 study visits.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 1. Tumors > 40 mm (cT3) or ≤ 10 mm

 2. Tumors with extrathyroidal extension suspected or obvious on the pre-operative work-up
 or intra-operatively (cT3T4)

 3. Metastatic neck lymph nodes or suspicious neck nodes on preoperative ultrasound (cN1);
 for suspicious nodes, FNAB cytology and thyroglobulin assay on the needle washout
 fluid will be performed

 4. Metastatic neck lymph nodes found during the thyroidectomy and confirmed with
 intra-operative frozen section analysis

 5. Medullary thyroid carcinoma on FNAB cytology and/or with basal serum calcitonin >50
 pg/ml

 6. Preoperative or intra-operative suspicion of non-papillary thyroid carcinoma or
 aggressive histopathological subtype or poorly differentiated carcinoma

 7. Distant metastases (M1) apparent pre-operatively (found due to symptoms or
 fortuitously; no specific pre-operative work-up will be performed, however, in
 accordance with current clinical practice)

 8. Recurrent nerve paralysis visualized on systematic pre-operative laryngoscopy and/or
 abnormal preoperative serum calcium

 9. Pregnant or breast feeding women

 10. Participation in another therapeutic clinical trial within one year from study entry

 11. Patient under guardianship or deprived of his liberty by a judicial or administrative
 decision or incapable of giving its consent