[Is endoscopic neck surgery the future direction in neck treatment?]

Area of Science:

• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Endoscopic Techniques

Context:

• Neck surgery traditionally involves open procedures with significant scarring.
• Advancements in endoscopic technology allow for less invasive approaches.
• Video-assisted techniques enhance visualization during surgery.

Purpose:

• To present minimally invasive endoscopic video-assisted surgery for neck conditions.
• To review current literature on endoscopic neck surgery techniques.
• To evaluate the preliminary outcomes and benefits of these procedures.

Summary:

• The paper discusses pure endoscopic procedures, open video-assisted approaches, and mini-access techniques for neck surgery.
• Preliminary cases include endoscopic sentinel lymph node biopsy and lipoma removal.
• The technique is suitable for specific neck lesions like parathyroid adenomas, thyroid nodules (<35mm), and submandibular gland issues.

Impact:

• Endoscopic neck surgery leads to decreased postoperative pain and lower analgesic requirements.
• Patients experience shorter scar lengths and higher early cosmetic satisfaction.
• This approach represents a valuable alternative for selected neck pathologies.