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The effect of robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy (RATT) on body image is better than the conventional approach with cervicotomy: a preliminary report

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Abstract

Background

Cosmetic satisfaction is not only based on the patient’s perception of the scar itself but is also related to body image self-evaluation. Cosmetic superiority of Robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy (RATT) over conventional thyroidectomy (CT) has not yet been clearly demonstrated. Aim of our study was to compare body image in patients undergoing CT versus RATT.

Methods

The study included 160 (80 CT and 80 RATT) patients undergoing thyroidectomy between August 2014 and March 2018 at the Endocrine Surgery Department. The inclusion criteria were age 18 to < 60 years, female sex, thyroid volume < 30 mL, and nodule diameter < 5 cm. Scar length, operative time, and complications were analyzed. The body image questionnaire (BIQ) was used 3 months postoperatively. The Student t test was used for statistical analysis.

Results

Age was lower in RATT group (38.2 vs 41.4 years) (P < 0.0001). The nodule diameter was larger in RATT group (27.1 vs 23.1 mm) (P = 0.028). Operative time was longer in RATT group (93.7 vs 47.6 min) (P < 0.0001). The scar was longer in RATT group (59.9 vs 37.7 mm) (P < 0.0001). The groups had similar complication rates. BIQ showed that RATT patients answered more favorably to question 2, “Do you feel the operation has damaged your body?” (P = 0.042) and to question 3, “Do you feel less attractive as a result of your treatment?” (P = 0.024). Also self-global satisfaction was better in RATT group (P = 0.019).

Conclusions

In our experience, RATT has a significantly better impact on body image than the conventional approach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Endocrine Surgery Unit, Department of Surgical, Medical and Molecular Pathology and Critical Area, Pisa Hospital, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, Edificio 30 J, 56100, Pisa, Italy

    Valeria Matteucci, Lorenzo Fregoli, Piermarco Papini, Aleksandr Aghababyan, Paolo Miccoli & Gabriele Materazzi

  2. College of Clinical Medicine, Xi’an Medical University, Xi’an, China

    Dan Bai

  3. Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University L. Vanvitelli, Naples, Italy

    Giovanni Docimo

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  1. Valeria Matteucci
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Correspondence to Gabriele Materazzi.

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Matteucci, V., Bai, D., Fregoli, L. et al. The effect of robot-assisted transaxillary thyroidectomy (RATT) on body image is better than the conventional approach with cervicotomy: a preliminary report. Updates Surg 73, 1169–1175 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13304-020-00785-8

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