Total Endoscopic Thyroid Microcarcinoma Surgery: A Report of 14 Cases

Abstract

Objective To discuss the feasibility of total endoscopic thyroidectomy on papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) on the basis of the summary of benign thyroid diseases. Methods We summarized and analyzed the feasibility and experience of total endoscopic thyroidectomy of PTMC based on the retrospective analysis of the clinical data of 60 patients with benign thyroid diseases and 14 PTMC patients underwent total endoscopic surgery. Results In regard to the endoscopic thyroidectomy of benign thyroid diseases, the average size of the nodules was (2.79±0.66) cm and the average operation time was (162.77±32.39) min. As for the 14 cases of endoscopic thyroidectomy of PTMC, all patients undergone unilateral lobe with isthmus resection and ipsilateral lymph node dissection in the central region. The average size of the nodules was (0.65±0.26) cm and the average operation time was (200.77±24.37) min. The number of dissected central lymph nodes was (5.73±2.86). The median amount of intraoperative bleeding was 17ml. Unilateral lobe in 14 cases were completely removed. Among them, four cases occurred postoperative transient asymptomatic hypocalcemia, and no hoarseness. Conclusion Based on the experience of total endoscopic thyroidectomy of benign thyroid disease, it is safe and feasible to select PTMC for endoscopic surgery. Auxiliary techniques, such as carbon nanoparticles, neural monitoring, etc., could be used to fully expose the vision and improve the safety of operation.

Keywords

• papillary thyroid microcarcinoma
• endoscopic surgery
• chest-areolar approach