Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 24, 2026
Transoral Robotic Total Thyroidectomy and Bilateral Central Regional Lymph Node Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma
Published on: September 15, 2023
Comparison of Robotic versus Conventional Selective Neck Dissection and Total Thyroidectomy for Papillary Thyroid
Chang Myeon Song1, Yong Bae Ji1, Eui Suk Sung1
1Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
Objective:
To compare the surgical outcomes of robotic selective neck dissection (SND) with total thyroidectomy and conventional transcervical SND with total thyroidectomy.
Study Design:
Case series with chart review.
Setting:
University tertiary care facility.
Subject And Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed 66 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with SND (≥3 levels of II-V) and bilateral central neck dissection for cN1b papillary thyroid carcinoma, of whom 41 underwent conventional SND and 25 of whom underwent robotic SND. Subjective pain, sensory change, and cosmetic satisfaction were evaluated regularly for 3 months with a questionnaire.
Results:
Compared with the conventional group, patients in the robotic group were younger (mean, 36.7 vs 47.5 years; P = .003) and more female dominant (96.0% vs 73.2%; P = .023). Mean total operative time was longer in the robotic group than the conventional group (298 vs 236 minutes; P < .001). Anterior chest pain was higher in the robotic group at postoperative 1 day (pain score, 1.88 vs 0.62; P = .011), 1 week (1.30 vs 0.43; P = .036), and 1 month (0.90 vs 0.18; P = .029). Postoperative cosmetic satisfaction was significantly superior in the robotic group.
Conclusion:
Compared with conventional transcervical SND with total thyroidectomy, robotic SND with total thyroidectomy yields superior outcomes for cosmetic satisfaction, longer operative time, and higher chest pain in the short term. Further study with a larger number of patients is mandatory.
