Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026
Identification and Protection of the Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve during Transoral Robotic Thyroidectomy
Published on: October 24, 2025
Multifocal recurrence on the transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy incision
E Chabrillac1, S Zerdoud2, S Fontaine3
1Département de chirurgie, Institut Universitaire du Cancer Toulouse - Oncopôle, 1, avenue Irène Joliot-Curie, 31059 Toulouse, France.
Introduction:
Robotic thyroidectomy (RT) has been reported to achieve satisfactory results. However, its long-term oncological results have not been validated. The use of RT to treat thyroid cancer comprises specific risks that are not encountered with open thyroidectomy (OT).
Case Summary:
We report the case of a patient operated by two-stage RT for stage pT3a follicular carcinoma, followed by tumour seeding along the incision despite adjuvant Iodine-131 therapy and external beam radiotherapy.
Discussion:
This case illustrates the limitations and insufficient perspective of RT for thyroid cancer, with the recent discovery of a risk of tumour seeding along the incision. Rigorous patient selection should help to avoid this risk of tumour seeding.
