Abstract
BackgroundEndoscopic thyroidectomy has been applied prudently to malignant thyroid tumors. The purpose of our study was to compare the surgical outcomes of endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET) and conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) for micropapillary thyroid carcinoma.MethodsFrom October 2002 to December 2008, 78 patients underwent unilateral lobectomy and isthmectomy with central lymph node dissection for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma. Of these, 37 patients underwent ET and 41patients COT. Surgical outcomes, including operation time, number of retrieved lymph nodes, postoperative complication rate and patients’ satisfaction with the cosmetic results, were analyzed.ResultsThe mean age of the patients was 42.3 ± 7.6 years in the ET group and 49.0 ± 10.8 years in the OT group (P = 0.003). The operation time was shorter in the COT group (112.3 ± 14min) than in the ET group (138.4 ± 36.9 min, P< 0.01). However, there were no significant differences in tumor size (0.5 ± 0.231vs. 0.41 ± 0.264cm, P = 0.116), number of retrieved lymph nodes (3.63 ± 2.1vs. 3.82 ± 3.28, P = 0.78) or postoperative hospital stay (3.35 ± 0.94vs. 3.17 ± 1.16 days, P = 0.457). Patients in the ET group experienced more pain than those in the COT group at 1 and 7 days after the operation as evaluated by a visual analog scale (P = 0.037, 0.026). Cosmetically, patients in the ET group were very satisfied with the operative procedure according to the questionnaire we used (1.43 ± 0.55vs. 3.21 ± 0.72, P< 0.001). The mean follow-up period was 54.3 months in the ET group and 47.4 months in the COT group, and each group exhibited one case of tumor recurrence detected at the other thyroid lobe within 2 years.ConclusionsLarge series of prospective studies and long-term follow-up are needed, but the results of ET using the axillary approach for micropapillary thyroid carcinoma were not inferiortothose using COT, and it might be a safe and feasible procedure with good cosmetic results.
Highlights
Endoscopic thyroidectomy has been applied prudently to malignant thyroid tumors
Endoscopic thyroid surgery was thought to be appropriate only for benign thyroid diseasesand contraindicated in thyroid cancer patients because a complete thyroidectomy could not be adequately performed via endoscopic means [3]
We analyzed the medical records of all patients retrospectively and evaluated surgical outcomes such as hospital day, operative time, complications, number of retrieved lymph nodes, tumor size and cosmetic results in the endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET) compared to the conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) group
Summary
Endoscopic thyroidectomy has been applied prudently to malignant thyroid tumors. The purpose of our study was to compare the surgical outcomes of endoscopic thyroidectomy (ET) and conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) for micropapillary thyroid carcinoma. Endoscopic neck surgery was first introduced by Gagner in 1996 [1], and Huscher performed the first endoscopic thyroidectomy in 1997 [2]. Thereafter, various endoscopic operative methods, including axillary, breast and anterior chest approaches,were introduced by many surgeons. As experience is accumulating and techniques are being developed, the indications for endoscopic thyroidectomy for thyroid malignancies can be expanded.The aim of this study was to compare endoscopic lobectomy and isthmectomy with ipsilateral central neck dissection by the axillary approach with the conventional open method in terms of the surgical outcomes and long-term courses for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
