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Endoscopic thyroidectomy via areola approach: summary of 1,250 cases in a single institution

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Abstract

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect and cosmetic results of endoscopic thyroidectomy (ETE) via the areola approach for patients with thyroid diseases.

Methods

A total of 1,250 patients with thyroid diseases underwent ETE via the areola approach between April 2005 and January 2011. Of these, 898 were benign goiters, 260 were Graves’ disease, 28 were secondary hyperthyroidism, and 64 were papillary carcinomas.

Results

The surgery was successfully completed in 1,249 cases, and 1 case was converted to open surgery. The mean operation time, estimated blood loss, and hospital stay after surgery for patients with a goiter, hyperthyroidism, and papillary carcinoma were 94.4 min, 15.2 ml, 5.0 days, 97.9 min, 16.1 ml, 5.5 days, and 134.3 min, 18.6 ml, 6.4 days, respectively. Complications included 4 cases of postoperative bleeding, 1 case of transection of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) on one side, 7 cases of temporary RLN injury, 34 cases of transient hypocalcemia, 5 cases of skin bruising on the chest wall, and 1 case of subcutaneous infection in the neck. At 4.6-year (2.5–8 years) follow-up of 1,185 (94.8 %) patients, 3 patients with Graves’ disease had recurrence of hyperthyroidism, and 4 patients with nodular goiter had recurrence of small nodules. Four patients had discomfort on swallowing, 4 patients had an abnormal sensation of skin traction on the neck and the chest, and 1 patient with scar diathesis had mild scar hyperplasia. A total of 876 patients were satisfied, 4 equivocal, and 0 unsatisfied with the cosmetic results.

Conclusion

ETE via the areola approach for patients with benign goiters, Graves’ disease, secondary hyperthyroidism, and papillary carcinomas without metastasis to lateral cervical lymph nodes is an effective and safe procedure with excellent cosmetic results.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by Science and Technology Development Fund Project, Macao (Grant 027/2010/A).

Disclosures

Drs. Cunchuan Wang, Zhiqi Feng, Jinyi Li, Wah Yang, Hening Zhai, Nim Choi, Jingge Yang, Youzhu Hu, Yunlong Pan, and Guo Cao have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510630, China

    Cunchuan Wang, Zhiqi Feng, Jinyi Li, Wah Yang, Hening Zhai, Nim Choi, Jingge Yang, Youzhu Hu, Yunlong Pan & Guo Cao

  2. Department of General Surgery, Centro Hospitalar Conde de São Januário, Macao, China

    Nim Choi

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  1. Cunchuan Wang
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  2. Zhiqi Feng
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Correspondence to Cunchuan Wang.

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Wang, C., Feng, Z., Li, J. et al. Endoscopic thyroidectomy via areola approach: summary of 1,250 cases in a single institution. Surg Endosc 29, 192–201 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-3658-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-014-3658-8

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