A Pilot Study of Telerobotic Radical Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Cancer Using a 5G Network

Background: The incidence of thyroid cancer has increased globally. In recent years, robotic surgical systems have been applied in thyroid surgery, and the rapid development of fifth-generation (5G) communication technology has laid a solid foundation for the smooth implementation of remote surgery. Objective: The aim was to explore the feasibility and safety of telerobotic radical thyroidectomy using 5G communication technology to treat thyroid cancer. Methods: From August 2024 to October 2024, telerobotic radical thyroidectomy was performed on seven female patients using a 5G wireless network and a dedicated line network (or ordinary wired broadband) spanning 22-2200 km. The patients' clinical and information transmission data were analyzed. Results: All patients (papillary thyroid carcinoma, female, with an average age of 44.0 ± 4.6 years) underwent uneventful surgical procedures without any transfer to open surgery or complications. The average surgical duration was 91.3 ± 11.8 min, the average blood loss was 11.4 ± 4.8 mL, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 3.6 ± 0.8 days. All subjects were successfully discharged within 5 days after surgery. The average total latency time of the intraoperative network was 137.5 (range, 121-159) ms, and there were no adverse events, such as network disconnection, frame loss, or network attacks. The operator worked smoothly without any obvious delay or lag, and the recorded audio and video are clear. Conclusions: Telerobotic radical thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer over a 5G network demonstrates promising feasibility and safety. With stable network transmission and a clear surgical field, the precise operations required in thyroid surgery can be performed reliably. These findings suggest that this technology can facilitate high-quality surgical care in remote areas, contributing to a more balanced distribution of medical resources.