Endoscopic thyroidectomy: why we need a transoral approach

Abstract

Transoral thyroidectomy (TT) is a feasible novel surgical procedure that does not need visible incisions, a truly scar-free surgery. Inclusion criteria are (a) patients who have a ultrasonographically (US) estimated thyroid diameter not larger than 10 cm, (b) US estimated gland volume ≤45 mL, (c) nodule size ≤50 mm, (d) a benign tumor, such as a thyroid cyst, single-nodular goiter, or multinodular goiter, (e) follicular neoplasm, (f) papillary microcarcinoma without evidence of metastasis. The procedure is carried out through three-port technique placed at the oral vestibule, one 10-mm port for 30° endoscope and two additional 5-mm ports for dissecting and coagulating instruments. CO2insufflation pressure is set at 6 mmHg. An anterior cervical subplatysmal space is created from the oral vestibule down to the sternal notch, laterally to the sterncleidomuscles. TT is done fully endoscopically using conventional endoscopic instruments. TT represents probably the best scarless approach to the thyroid due to the short distance between the thyroid and the incisions, respecting the surgical planes.

Keywords

• transoral thyroidectomy
• endoscopic thyroidectomy
• robotic thyroidectomy
• natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery