[Minimally invasive open access thyoid surgery--main point, indications and effectiveness].

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Nodular thyroid disease is commonly treated with various surgical techniques.
• Minimally invasive approaches are increasingly utilized in thyroid surgery.
• The minimally invasive open access (MOATS) technique is a recent development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility, indications, and efficacy of the minimally invasive open access (MOATS) technique in thyroid surgery.
• To compare MOATS with conventional open thyroidectomy.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis of 395 patients undergoing MOATS for thyroid nodules over four years.
• Patients had nodules less than 3.5 cm, with preoperative ultrasound and FNAB in select cases.
• Surgical outcomes and cosmetic results were compared to a matched cohort undergoing conventional surgery.

Main Results:

• MOATS was performed for various procedures including resections, lobectomies, and thyroidectomies.
• Pathological findings included nodular goiter, toxic nodular goiter, adenoma, Hashimoto's thyroiditis, and thyroid carcinoma.
• Advantages of MOATS include minimal incision, comparable operative time, and superior cosmetic results.

Conclusions:

• Minimally invasive open access thyroid surgery is a safe, simple, and effective technique for properly selected patients.
• MOATS offers excellent cosmetic results for small to middle-sized thyroid nodules.
• The technique merges the benefits of endoscopic and conventional thyroid surgery.