A comparative analysis of endoscopic thyroidectomy versus conventional thyroidectomy in clinically lymph node...

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Surgical Oncology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Differentiated thyroid cancer is common in young women with a good prognosis.
• Endoscopic thyroidectomy techniques have advanced since 1996, expanding surgical indications.
• Evaluating endoscopic thyroidectomy's role in clinically lymph node negative (cN0) patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the oncologic completeness and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy in cN0 thyroid cancer.
• To compare endoscopic thyroidectomy with conventional open thyroidectomy.
• To consider cosmetic outcomes in addition to oncologic results.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 94 clinically lymph node negative (cN0) thyroid cancer patients.
• Comparison between endoscopic thyroidectomy (n=49) and conventional open thyroidectomy (n=45) using the bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA).
• Analysis of clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical outcomes, postoperative complications, and recurrence rates.

Main Results:

• Younger women with smaller thyroid cancers showed a preference for endoscopic surgery.
• No statistically significant differences in postoperative complications were observed between the groups.
• No recurrence or mortality cases were reported during the short follow-up period.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic thyroidectomy is a feasible and safe treatment for cN0 thyroid cancer.
• The oncologic outcomes and safety profile are comparable to conventional open surgery.
• Cosmetic advantages may contribute to patient preference for the endoscopic approach.