Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 28, 2025
05:10
Gasless Endoscopic Thyroidectomy via the Trans-Axillary Approach
Published on: September 15, 2023
1.1K
Endoscopic thyroidectomy using gasless axillary approach for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma
Shiying Xu1, Peien Wang2, Beibei Miao2
11. The Second Clinical Medical College, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China.
Summary
Endoscopic thyroidectomy using the gasless axillary approach (ET-GA) offers comparable efficacy and safety to conventional open thyroidectomy for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). This minimally invasive technique significantly enhances patient satisfaction with postoperative cosmetic outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Surgical Oncology
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Endocrinology
Background:
- Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most common type of thyroid cancer.
- Conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) is the standard surgical treatment, but it can result in visible neck scarring.
- Minimally invasive techniques like endoscopic thyroidectomy aim to reduce cosmetic impact and potentially improve patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of endoscopic thyroidectomy using a gasless axillary approach (ET-GA) for low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).
- To compare the surgical outcomes, cosmetic results, and neck function between ET-GA and conventional open thyroidectomy (COT).
- To assess patient satisfaction with cosmetic results following ET-GA compared to COT.
Main Methods:
- A comparative study involving 70 patients with T1N0M0 Stage I PTC.
- 35 patients underwent unilateral thyroid lobectomy with central neck dissection using ET-GA.
- 35 patients underwent the same procedure using conventional open thyroidectomy (COT).
- Surgical outcomes, complication rates, neck function (pain, injury, dysphagia), and cosmetic satisfaction were assessed.
Main Results:
- ET-GA achieved successful completion of thyroid lobectomy and central neck dissection in all cases without conversion to open surgery.
- Operative time was longer in the ET-GA group, but the number of dissected lymph nodes was comparable to the COT group.
- Complication rates, including transient vocal cord paralysis and postoperative bleeding, were similar between ET-GA and COT groups.
- While neck function scores showed no significant differences, cosmetic satisfaction was significantly higher in the ET-GA group postoperatively.
Conclusions:
- Endoscopic thyroidectomy using the gasless axillary approach (ET-GA) demonstrates equivalent efficacy and safety to conventional open thyroidectomy (COT) for low-risk PTC.
- ET-GA offers a significant advantage in improving patient satisfaction with postoperative cosmetic results.
- ET-GA is a viable and effective alternative surgical option for selected patients with low-risk papillary thyroid carcinoma.
