Management of hyperfunctioning single thyroid nodules in the era of minimally invasive thyroid surgery

Both surgical excision and radioiodine ablation are effective modalities in the management of hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules. Minimally invasive thyroid surgery (MITS) using the lateral mini‐incision approach has previously been demonstrated to be a safe and effective technique for thyroid lobectomy. As such MITS may offer advantages as a surgical approach to hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules without the need for a long cervical incision or extensive dissection associated with formal open hemithyroidectomy. The aim of the present study was to assess the safety and efficacy of MITS for the treatment of hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules. This is a retrospective case study. Data were obtained from the University of Sydney Endocrine Surgical Unit Database from 2002 to 2007. There were 86 cases of hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules surgically removed during the study period, of which 10 (12%) were managed using the MITS approach. The ipsilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve was identified and preserved in all cases with no incidence of temporary or permanent nerve palsy. The external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve was visualized and preserved in eight cases (80%). There were no cases of postoperative bleeding. There was one clinically significant follicular thyroid carcinoma in the series (10%). In nine of 10 cases (90%) normalization of thyroid function followed surgery. MITS is a safe and effective procedure, achieving the benefits of a minimally invasive procedure with minimal morbidity. As such it now presents an attractive alternative to radioiodine ablation for the management of small hyperfunctioning thyroid nodules.     

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy and thyroidectomy--current concepts.

The introduction of various techniques for minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) and minimally invasive thyroid surgery (MITS) have changed both the conceptual and surgical approach to parathyroid disease and single thyroid nodules. Perceived advantages of minimally invasive surgery both among clinicians and patients, have been a major factor in the development of new surgical techniques, as well as refinement in preoperative localisation techniques. Worldwide the number of patients being operated on using MIP or MITS has steadily increased. At some major centres as many as 70% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have their operation using MIP. In this review we discuss the underlying pathology and investigative procedures, as well as the various techniques used, all of which now have excellent outcomes at a minimal cost and with minimal complications. Based on our own experience we recommend the use of a lateral focused mini-incision for both MIP and MIT since they both use standard equipment and standard dissection techniques familiar to all experienced endocrine surgeons.     

Minimal access thyroid surgery: Is it feasible,is it appropriate?

Background: Reports of minimal access thyroid surgery (MATS) using various techniques have recently appeared. This study examined the feasibility of MATS using either a lateral ‘focused’ or endoscopically assisted approach. Methods: The study group comprised all patients undergoing minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) during the period May 1998 to April 2002 in whom a concomitant thyroid procedure was undertaken. All procedures were performed either through a 2‐cm lateral cervical incision (n = 19) or endoscopically (n = 7). Results: Twenty‐six patients underwent thyroid surgery, consisting of either local excision of a thyroid nodule (n = 25) or hemi­thyroidectomy (n = 1). In 13 patients the nodule was incidentally discovered, in four patients removal of the parathyroid necessitated partial thyroidectomy, and in nine patients the lesion identified by preoperative parathyroid localization proved to be a thyroid nodule. There were no permanent complications in the study group. Two patients required drainage of a haematoma. The final pathology of all 26 cases revealed benign nodular thyroid disease. Conclusion: Thyroid surgery can safely be performed as a minimally invasive procedure. Minimal access thyroid surgery is therefore a feasible option for selected patients. The question remains to be answered as to whether this surgical approach is appropriate treatment for nodular thyroid disease.     

Minimally Invasive Thyroid Surgery for Single Nodules: An Evidence-based Review of the Lateral Mini-incision Technique

Background

Minimally invasive thyroidectomy techniques are being developed in an effort to minimize pain, shorten the length of hospital stay, and improve cosmesis. Various minimally invasive thyroid surgery (MITS) techniques have been shown to be safe and feasible with some benefits in terms of cosmesis and pain outcomes; however, no single technique has been broadly accepted. This study was designed to review the evidence in relation to MITS and our experience with the direct lateral mini-incision technique.

Methods

A review of literature published until December 2007 on minimally invasive thyroidectomy techniques was undertaken. Three issues were addressed: 1) Does MITS provide any benefit compared with conventional open thyroidectomy? 2) Is there any advantage to the use of endoscopic or video-assisted techniques compared with the direct mini-incision technique? 3) Is the lateral mini-incision technique safe and efficacious? Additional data in relation to the above issues was derived from a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing mini-incision thyroid surgery within our unit.

Results

Issue 1: Five prospective randomized studies and eight studies at a lower level of evidence have demonstrated consistent advantages of MITS compared with open thyroid surgery in terms of reduced pain and improved cosmesis with equivalent operative safety. Issue 2: In compiling four level III and IV studies that compared open and video-assisted minimally invasive surgery, there do not seem to be significant differences in patient satisfaction with the incision. The video-assisted approaches require significantly longer operative times but also seem to be less painful. Issue 3: Three cohort studies (level IV) have demonstrated that the lateral mini-incision technique is both safe and efficacious compared with open surgery for hemi-thyroidectomy. Data from our cohort study of 1281 patients (open hemi-thyroidectomy 1054 vs. MITS 227) confirmed MITS to be a safe and effective procedure. The rate of postoperative hematoma formation and wound infection was equivalent between groups. The rate of permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury was 0.4% for MITS and 0.3% for CHT and not significantly different (p = 0.7).

Conclusions

MITS has demonstrated advantages over conventional open approaches for both hemi- and total thyroidectomy and the benefits do not depend on the open or video-assisted approach. For thyroid lobectomies, the lateral mini-incision approach can be performed with an operative time and postoperative complication profile equivalent to conventional hemi-thyroidectomy while providing excellent cosmesis with a 2–3 cm scar.     

Minimal access thyroid surgery: technique and report of the first 25 cases

BACKGROUND: Minimal access thyroid surgery, using various techniques, is increasingly being reported. The present study reviews our experience with thyroid surgery using a lateral focused mini-incision approach, and assesses its safety and feasibility. METHODS: The study group comprised all patients undergoing minimal access thyroid surgery (MATS) during the period May 2002-May 2003. Data were prospectively gathered, including patient demographics, indication for surgery, operation performed, nodule size, final pathology, and complications. Exclusion criteria for this procedure included: family history of thyroid cancer, previous neck irradiation or surgery, carcinoma on fine needle aspiration, presence of significant thyroiditis, multinodular goitre, and nodule size >3 cm. The operation was carried out through a 2.5-cm lateral incision placed directly over the nodule, with exposure gained by dissecting the plane between the sternomastoid muscle and the lateral edge of the strap muscles. RESULTS: Twenty-five patients underwent MATS, 22 women and three men. Nineteen patients underwent hemithyroidectomy, five underwent isthmectomy, and one underwent local nodule excision. The average measured incision size was 2.63 cm at the end of the procedure. The average nodule size was 2.2 cm, and the average thyroid lobe resected measured 4.7 cm in maximal length. Final pathology revealed benign nodules in 21 patients and four thyroid cancers (two follicular and two papillary). There was one wound infection and two patients had temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve neuropraxia. CONCLUSION: Minimal access thyroid surgery is a safe and feasible alternative to open thyroid surgery in selected cases.     

The actual role of classic bilateral cervicotomic approach for primary hyperparathyroidism in the era of minimally invasive surgery

Recent advances in preoperative localisation of parathyroid adenomas and intraoperative prove of complete removal of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue have fostered less invasive operative procedures which directly target the diseased gland. Such strategies have partially replaced the previous gold standard procedure of bilateral neck exploration. We herein report on our own series of 1099 consecutive operations for primary hyperparathyroidism performed in a 16 year period and provide information and arguments for primary bilateral exploration in selected cases. 97.1% of patients were cured by the primary operation. From 1999 through 2001, 200 patients underwent bilateral neck exploration, whereas 63 unilateral operations were performed (33 patients were treated by minimally invasive video-assisted parathyroidectomy (MIVAP) and 30 by minimally invasive open parathyroidectomy (MIOP). In the remaining 200 patients minimally invasive unilateral parathyroid surgery was not feasible due to concomitant goiter (n = 102), lack of preoperative localisation (n = 30), previous thyroid surgery (n = 10), suspected multiglandular disease (n = 10), or other reasons (n = 8). In 40 patients the decision for bilateral neck exploration was made despite feasibility of a unilateral approach. CONCLUSION: Whereas unilateral exploration produced excellent cure rates in older patients, it is not recommended in patients with a high likelihood of multiglandular disease, presence of a large or multinodular goitre, high PTH levels, giant adenoma, unclear MIBI scans or an unreliable OPTH assay. Contrasting recent reports on a dramatic shift of technique towards minimally invasive procedures unilateral parathyroid surgery may not be preferably advisable in a majority of patients from countries with insufficient iodine supplementation.     

Preoperative technetium Tc 99m sestamibi SPECT imaging in the management of primary hyperparathyroidism in patients with concomitant multinodular goiter

HYPOTHESIS: Preoperative parathyroid and thyroid imaging using technetium Tc 99m sestamibi scintigraphy-single-photon emission computed tomography (Tc 99m MIBI SPECT) and technetium Tc 99m sodium pertechnetate, respectively, in patients with parathyroid adenomas and concomitant multinodular goiters enables the selection of those suitable for minimally invasive radio-guided surgery. DESIGN: One hundred thirty patients with primary hyperparathyroidism were treated surgically during a 30-month period. Forty-one of these 130 patients had an associated multinodular goiter. All patients underwent planar and SPECT parathyroid scintigraphy using Tc 99m MIBI, and thyroid scintigraphy with technetium Tc 99m pertechnetate 2 to 5 days before surgery. On the morning of surgery each patient was reinjected with Tc 99m MIBI for intraoperative localization and validation. Minimally invasive radio-guided parathyroidectomy was performed using a handheld gamma-detection device with a thyroid probe. Removed glands were submitted for histopathologic examination for comparison with the scintigraphic results. Quantitative analysis of parathyroid activity was performed. RESULTS: Minimally invasive, radioguided parathyroidectomy was successfully performed in 21 (51%) of 41 patients who had a concomitant multinodular goiter. The remaining 20 patients underwent standard neck exploratory surgery because of associated thyroid disease; 5 of them had malignant thyroid disease. Among the 41 patients planar scintigraphy correctly identified 28 adenomas (68%). Single-photon emission computed tomographic imaging identified an additional 11 adenomas for a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 100%. Moreover, SPECT imaging correctly identified malignant thyroid nodules in 4 of 5 patients. Technetium Tc 99m MIBI retention was noted in only 25 adenomas (61%) while the remaining adenomas demonstrated a rapid washout. The average uptake ratio of parathyroid counts to maximum thyroid activity was significantly correlated with parathyroid hormone levels before surgery (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS: Our data encourage the use of preoperative SPECT imaging of parathyroid adenomas in patients who have multinodular goiters to select those suitable for minimally invasive radioguided surgery. This technique also offers important information regarding thyroid nodules that are suspicious for malignancy. The intraoperative gamma-probe technique enables the surgeon to focus his or her search, provides instant feedback regarding the progress of the operation, reduces surgical trauma and complications, and yields better cosmetic results. Patients with higher presurgical parathyroid hormone levels may especially benefit from radioguided surgery.     

Minimally invasive thyroid and parathyroid surgery is not a question of length of the incision

INTRODUCTION: Postoperative cosmesis in the neck is often a major concern of patients, particularly women, undergoing thyroid or parathyroid surgery. Therefore, a reduction in the length of the cervical incision, and even more so, having no scar in the neck, is particularly appealing to these patients. Over the last years, many different so-called minimally invasive procedures have been proposed for the treatment of thyroid and parathyroid diseases, the primary aim being to improve the cosmetic results. Nevertheless, the concept of surgical invasiveness cannot be limited to the length or to the site of the skin incision. It must be extended to all structures dissected during the procedure. Therefore, minimally invasive thyroidectomy or minimally invasive parathyroidectomy should properly be defined as operations through a short, less than 3 cm, and discrete incision that permits direct access to the thyroid or parathyroid gland, resulting in a focused dissection. In addition, type of anesthesia, duration of the operation, postoperative pain, complication and success rates, and long-term outcome should also be taken into account to assess surgical invasiveness. CONCLUSION: Thyroid and parathyroid operations that minimize the incision but keep it in the neck may be considered minimally invasive not only in respect of the size of the skin incision but also, and above all, in respect of the accessibility of the operative field and extent of dissection. These operations have some advantages over conventional cervicotomy in terms of postoperative pain and cosmetic results. Until now, there is no evidence to state that morbidity of these new approaches is at least equal to the conventional equivalent. Operations that employ an extracervical approach, which have the advantage of leaving no scar in the neck, cannot reasonably be described as minimally invasive, as they require more dissection than conventional open surgery.     

Reoperative surgery for thyroid disease

Background and aims Reoperative surgery for thyroid disease is rare. However, it is sometimes indicated for nodular recurrence after partial surgery for initially benign thyroid disease or for a completion total thyroidectomy when a final diagnosis of well-differentiated thyroid cancer (WDTC) is confirmed on a permanent section of a partially removed thyroid gland. This surgery can expose the patient to postoperative complications such as recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy or hypoparathyroidism. The aims of our study were to describe the population subjected to reoperative thyroid surgery and to evaluate postoperative morbidity to find the risk factor. Patients and methods The present study is a retrospective analysis of our experience with completion thyroidectomy: 685 consecutive patients underwent this procedure in a 14-year period, for a recurrent uninodular (85 patients) or multinodular (333 patients) goiter, recurrent thyrotoxicosis (42 patients), or a completion thyroidectomy for WDTC after partial resection of the thyroid gland (225 patients). The operative technique was standardized with identification of the RLN and parathyroid glands before removal of the thyroid gland. l-Thyroxin treatment was started the day after surgery. Postoperative rates of suffocating hematoma, wound infection, RLN palsy, hypoparathyroidism, and persistence or recurrence of hyperthyroidism were studied and compared to the same parameters in patients who underwent primary bilateral thyroid gland resection during the same period. Results The transient morbidity rate was 8%, with 5% hypoparathyroidism, 1.2% RLN palsy, 0.9% suffocating hematoma, and 0.2% wound infection. These results were higher than those from cases of primary thyroid resection for bilateral disease. Within the secondary surgery group, postoperative complications depended on the mean weight of the resected thyroid gland, hyperthyroidism, and the bilaterality of thyroid exploration during the previous surgery. The permanent morbidity rate was 3.8%, including 1.5% RLN palsy and 2.5% hypoparathyroidism. Permanent complication rates were higher than those for primary thyroid resection. Incidental carcinoma was found in 92 patients (13%): 10% (42 of 418) in patients with recurrent euthyroid nodular disease, 7% (3 of 42) in patients with recurrent hyperthyroidism, and 21% (47 of 225) in patients who underwent a completion thyroidectomy for cancer. Conclusion Because reoperative thyroid surgery can lead to potential complications, especially permanent RLN palsy or hypoparathyroidism, it should be reserved for patients who need it. The importance of respecting specific technical rules should be emphasized.     

Minimally invasive, totally gasless video-assisted thyroid lobectomy.

BACKGROUND: Neck surgery is one of the newest fields of application of video-assisted surgery. We developed a technique for minimally invasive, totally gasless video-assisted thyroid lobectomy. METHODS: The procedure was accepted by a patient with a follicular nodule of the left lobe of the thyroid. We performed a left thyroid lobectomy through a single 20-mm horizontal skin incision, just above the sternal notch, after inserting a 5-mm 30 degrees laparoscope, by using both endoscopic and conventional instrumentation. RESULTS: The recurrent laryngeal nerve and the parathyroid glands were easily identified and preserved. The operating time was 2.5 hours. No complication occurred. The postoperative stay was 2 days. The cosmetic result was excellent CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that our technique is feasible and safe. This makes us optimistic about the future of minimally invasive, video-assisted thyroid surgery.     

Thyroid pathology associated with primary hyperparathyroidism

BACKGROUND: Thyroid carcinoma and benign thyroid disease associated with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) have been well described. With the developing trend toward minimally invasive parathyroidectomy without intra-operative thyroid gland palpation, thyroid pathology may be missed. The authors consider it timely to revisit the issue of thyroid pathology found at neck exploration for PHPT. METHODS: A retrospective review of all cases of neck exploration for PHPT between 1993 and 1998 at Liverpool Hospital was undertaken. RESULTS: There were 65 patients in the study group (44 women, 21 men; mean age: 59 years). The most common indication for surgery was asymptomatic hypercalcaemia. The mean pre-operative calcium level was 2.9 mmol/L and the mean parathyroid hormone (PTH) level was 17 pmol/L. There were 26 cases (40%) of coexistent thyroid pathology. Ten cases (15%) were of mild multinodular change, seven cases (11%) were of severe multinodular change requiring thyroidectomy, three cases (4%) were nodules secondary to Hashimoto's thyroiditis and six cases (10%) were suspicious nodules that proved to be either adenomas (n = 3) or carcinomas (n = 3) following excision. There were four papillary carcinomas detected in the present series with a mean metastases, age, completeness of excision, invasion size (MACIS) score of 4.92. CONCLUSION: A 25% association of significant thyroid pathology with PHPT is reported. Despite pre-operative tests there were two cases (4%) of thyroid carcinoma where the decision to resect the thyroid gland was made following intra-operative thyroid gland palpation. One of these two papillary carcinoma patients would have fulfilled criteria for minimally invasive parathyroid surgery. When evaluating results of minimally invasive parathyroid surgery one must be aware of the potential for missed thyroid pathology.     

Minimally invasive videoscopic parathyroidectomy by lateral approach

Methods: A videoscopic parathyroidectomy was performed in 22 patients presenting with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). No patient had undergone previous neck surgery, presented with goiter or had a history of familial PHPT. Ultrasonography and Sestamibi scanning were performed preoperatively. Rapid intact parathormone assay was used during surgery. Through a 15-mm transversal skin incision on the anterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (SCM), the fascia connecting the lateral portion of the strap muscles and the thyroid lobe with the carotid sheath was gently divided, far enough to visualize the prevertebral fascia. Once enough space was created, three trocars were inserted: a 12-mm trocar through the incision and two 2.5-mm trocars on the line of the anterior border of the SCM, above and below the first trocar. Carbon dioxide was insufflated to 8 mmHg. Unilateral video-assisted parathyroid exploration was then carried out using a 10-mm O° endoscope. Once the adenoma had been identified, the trocars were removed. Then, directly through the skin incision, the thyroid lobe was retracted medially and the adenoma was extracted after clipping its pedicle. Results: Among the 23 enlarged glands, 20 (80%) were correctly identified by endoscopic exploration: mean weight 843 mg (100 mg to 5 g). The exploration was unilateral in 17 patients but bilateral in 5. Mean time of unilateral endoscopic exploration was 84 min (40–130 min). Morbidity was represented by two superficial hematomas. All 22 patients were biochemically cured, follow-up ranging from 3 months to 14 months. Conclusions: This preliminary study demonstrates that minimally invasive videoscopic parathyroidectomy by lateral approach is a feasible surgical procedure. Received: 24 November 1998 Accepted: 3 March 1999     

Minimally invasive video-assisted functional lateral neck dissection for metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma

Functional lateral neck dissection requires a large incision providing adequate exposure of the surgical field. We evaluated the feasibility of minimally invasive video-assisted functional lateral neck dissection (VALNED) in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Low-risk PTC patients with lateral neck metastases <2 cm, in absence of any evidence of great vessels involvement, were considered eligible. After accomplishing total thyroidectomy and central neck clearance, dissection was performed under endoscopic vision by using a technique very similar to conventional surgery through the single 4-cm skin incision used for thyroidectomy. Two patients were selected: 1 underwent bilateral and 1 unilateral VALNED. The mean number of the removed nodes was 25 per side. Both patients experienced transient postoperative hypocalcemia. No other complication occurred. No evidence of residual or recurrent disease was found at follow-up. VALNED is feasible, and the results are encouraging. For definitive conclusions, larger series and comparative studies are necessary.     

The University of Sydney Endocrine Surgery Database: 50 years of data accrual

Surgical databases are now a fundamental part of clinical practice and research but have only been commonplace in the past decade or so. The University of Sydney Endocrine Surgery Database has now been in existence for more than 50 years since it was started by Tom Reeve in 1957. It includes comprehensive documentation of every aspect of every thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal procedure carried out by its surgeons while they were active members of the unit. During those 50 years, 17,466 such procedures have been documented. In the first year of data collection, only 20 thyroid procedures carried out by one surgeon in one hospital were entered, whereas in the most recent year, 1092 major endocrine procedures carried out by three surgeons in 10 separate hospitals required entry. As well as providing for surgical audit, the database has been integral to the writing of 130 published articles and articles in press on the topic of thyroid, parathyroid and adrenal surgery. The database has been instrumental to significant changes in the practice of endocrine surgery, including introduction of total thyroidectomy for benign bilateral multinodular goitre by this unit two decades ago, leading to changed practice in most countries around the globe. Data acquisition has also allowed documentation of the safety and efficacy of new minimally invasive endocrine procedures such as minimally invasive parathyroidectomy and minimally invasive thyroid surgery. Audit-based research with accumulation of data based on surgical outcomes, that is, evidence-based surgery, remains the fundamental basis of sound surgical practice with the potential to lead important changes in clinical practice.     

Worldwide trends in the surgical treatment of primary hyperparathyroidism in the era of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy

HYPOTHESIS: Minimally invasive surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism has become an accepted part of endocrine surgical practice worldwide. DESIGN: Survey of members of the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons. SETTING: Clinical practice of endocrine surgeons worldwide. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Numbers of parathyroid procedures performed, types of minimally invasive procedures undertaken, and techniques used to ensure completeness of removal of hyperfunctioning parathyroid tissue as reported by the survey respondents. RESULTS: Of 160 surveys completed, 95 (59%) indicate that the surgeons currently perform minimally invasive parathyroidectomy and use this technique on average for 44% of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. The most common approach is the focused technique with a small incision, either central or lateral (92% [87 respondents]), followed by a video-assisted technique (22% [21 respondents]), and a true endoscopic technique with gas insufflation (12% [11 respondents]). Techniques used to ensure completeness of resection include the quick intraoperative intact parathyroid hormone assay (68% [65 respondents]), a same-day intact parathyroid hormone assay (17% [16 respondents]), and the nuclear probe (14% [13 respondents]). The number of parathyroidectomies performed worldwide increased from 1727 in 1980 to 6977 in 2000 with the average number per surgeon increasing from 23 in 1980 to 45 in 2000. Geographically, 20 (59%) of 34 surveys from the Americas report the use of minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, 23 (56%) of 41 from the Australasian region, and 34 (49%) of 69 from Europe or the Middle East. CONCLUSIONS: The number of parathyroidectomies performed for primary hyperparathyroidism has increased worldwide over the past 20 years. More than half of the surgeons responding to the survey perform minimally invasive parathyroidectomy, with the most using the focused small-incision technique.     

Color Doppler sonography in cold thyroid nodules for malignancy prediction

The aim of the present study was to assess the usefulness of thyroid nuclear medicine studies, fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) and color doppler sonography in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. Our study group consists of 81 patients with a solitary hypoactive thyroid nodule or with multinodular goiter having dominant nodule. Perinodular and intranodular blood flow, diameter of inferior thyroid artery and its flow velocity were the parameters measured by color doppler sonography. Also estimation of arterio-venous (A-V) shunt formation was another important parameter indicating the angioneogenesis. Results were not significant to distinguish the malignant and benign thyroid nodules (p > 0.05); 66% (n: 14) of 21 patients who had A-V shunt, had the final diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma. These data revealed sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values of color doppler sonography in carcinoma diagnosis among the patients with solitary hypoactive nodules or multinodular goiters having dominant nodule, as corresponding: 66%, 100%, 83% and 100%. In conclusion, arterio-venous shunt detected with color doppler sonography was the only parameter having high predictive value for malignancy. Recent studies on this topic imply that color doppler sonography will take place in algorithm of thyroid nodule evaluation.     

Transoral thyroid and parathyroid surgery

Background  

Translumenal endoscopic interventions via so-called natural orifices are gaining increasing interest because they allow surgical treatment without any incision of the skin. Moreover, minimally invasive procedures have found their way into thyroid and parathyroid surgery. Our goal was to develop a new access for thyroid and parathyroid resection via an entirely transoral approach.     

Recurrent laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery: a critical appraisal

Background: Identification and preservation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is of major concern in surgery of the thyroid gland. The purpose of this study was to review the surgical anatomy of the nerve and to describe its relationship to other important structures. Methods: A total of 325 patients were accrued in this prospective non‐randomized study from January 1999 to December 2000. All patients who had total, subtotal and hemithyroidectomies were included in this study. Each side of the thyroid gland was considered as a separate unit in the analysis of the results. Results: Two hundred and seventy‐six patients had thyroidectomies as their primary operation, while 49 patients had them as a reoperative procedure. There were 276 women and 46 men (6:1 female to male ratio) with a mean age of 43.1 years (range: 10?84 years). The total number of dissections was 502. The RLN was clearly identified in 491 (97.8%) dissections: single trunk in 323 dissections (65.8%), two extralaryngeal branches in 164 dissections (33.4%), and three extralaryngeal branches in three dissections (0.6%). One non‐recurrent laryngeal nerve was encountered (0.2%) in the series. The proximity of the RLN to the inferior thyroid artery (ITA) was noted in 444 (90.4%) dissections: 372 (83.8%) nerves were described to be posterior and intertwined between the branches of the ITA, and in 72 (16.2%) RLNs, they were observed to be anterior to the ITA. The close association of RLN to an enlarged tubercle of Zuckerkandl was documented in 381 dissections (73.7%). A total of 231 RLNs (60.8%) was seen in the tracheoesophageal groove, 18 (4.9%) nerves were observed to be lateral to the trachea, and in 109 (28.3%), they were posterior in location. Of concern in 23 (6.0%) dissections the RLN was on the anterior surface of the thyroid gland, which is at highest risk of injury before curving down to pass behind the tubercle of Zuckerkandl. It appears that the anterior course of the RLN was seen more often in the reoperative procedures to the thyroid gland (20%). Conclusions: Although various methods of localizing the RLN have been described, surgeons should be aware of the variations and have a thorough knowledge of normal anatomy in order to achieve a high standard of care. This will ensure the integrity and safety of the RLN in thyroid surgery. The anatomical variation may be minor in degree, but is of great importance as it may affect the outcome of the surgery and the patient's quality of life.     

Role of cervical ultrasound in detecting thyroid pathology in primary hyperparathyroidism

Background

Minimally invasive parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism is made possible with accurate preoperative imaging. In addition to the detection of parathyroid adenomas, cervical ultrasound also provides concomitant assessment of the thyroid gland, and many surgeons believe that it is essential. However, the incidental identification of thyroid nodules may then subject patients to further workup and potentially invasive thyroid procedures. We sought to determine the long-term consequence of omitting preoperative ultrasound on the development of thyroid pathology and cancer.

Methods

At our institution, 222 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism underwent parathyroidectomy without preoperative cervical ultrasound from 1990–2001. Thyroid pathology discovered by follow-up after parathyroidectomy, subsequent biopsy, and surgical interventions were analyzed.

Results

Of the 222 patients who underwent parathyroidectomy, the mean age was 55 ± 1 y and 149 were female (67%). In the course of their follow-up after parathyroidectomy, 13 patients (6%) received a cervical ultrasound, and seven of 13 (3%) underwent fine needle aspiration of a thyroid nodule. Only one of seven (0.4% of all patients) was ultimately diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Four additional patients were discovered to have thyroid malignancies as a result of intraoperative decision making. All five patients are currently alive with an average follow-up time of 14.9 ± 1.6 y. No patients in this series had an unnecessary thyroid intervention.

Conclusions

In patients who underwent parathyroidectomy without a preoperative ultrasound, only a small number (0.4%) were subsequently diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Furthermore, omission of ultrasound during the localization of parathyroid glands does not have a negative impact on the diagnosis of thyroid pathology as all patients who had thyroid cancer had good outcomes, and in fact, may prevent unnecessary thyroid interventions. Therefore, the use of cervical ultrasound for parathyroid localization should be considered optional rather than essential.     

喉返神经隧道解剖法结合神经监测在腔镜甲状腺手术中的应用

目的:探讨喉返神经隧道解剖法结合神经监测在腔镜甲状腺手术中的应用价值。方法:回顾分析2014年11月至2018年12月施行的141例腔镜甲状腺手术,术中均采用喉返神经隧道解剖法结合神经监测技术。其中甲状腺良性结节93例,甲状腺恶性肿瘤48例;行单侧腺叶切除术52例,单侧甲状腺癌根治术44例,双侧甲状腺癌根治术4例,41例部分切除术。结果:140例手术顺利完成,1例因喉返神经横断伤转开放手术行神经对端吻合;术后9例(9/141,6.38%)暂时性神经麻痹,无永久性声音嘶哑患者。结论:腔镜甲状腺手术中采用喉返神经隧道解剖法结合神经监测技术可快速定位喉返神经,降低手术难度,提高手术安全性,利于腔镜甲状腺手术更好地在基层医院推广普及。