Rationale: choice of comparators
EVENTS, THYROID
In France, total thyroidectomy with prophylactic central compartment (level VI) neck dissection as defined by the American Thyroid Association [A simulation by the American Thyroid Association, hypothesizing a 25% difference in significant oncologic events at 7 years, with a statistical power of 80%, concluded that a randomized trial was “not readily feasible” due to the need to randomize 5840 patients [If our study confirms the non-inferiority of total thyroidectomy alone, prophylactic central compartment neck dissection could be abandoned for these low-risk patients without taking undue oncologic risks. Secondary endpoints may also show a benefit in terms of patient quality of life and of cost-utility analysis with a total thyroidectomy alone. Patients, physicians, and healthcare providers would all benefit from less-extensive surgery.