Video-assisted thyroid lobectomy through a small wound in the submandibular area

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic thyroidectomy has not gained wide acceptance because of the expertise required, the long operation time, the wide dissection, and the extra cost of specialized instruments. We developed a video-assisted hemithyroidectomy procedure that requires only one small incision at the upper neck. METHODS: Hemithyroidectomy was performed through a 25 to 30 mm transverse incision made in the upper lateral neck for the treatment of benign thyroid nodule. No gas or external lift dissection was needed. RESULTS: The mean age of 39 patients was 33.8 years. The tumor size ranged from 1.9 to 5.5 cm (mean 3.1 cm). All patients underwent total lobectomy without conversion to traditional cervicotomy. The mean operation time was 56 minutes (range 36 to 90). Follicular adenoma was the final pathologic diagnosis in 25 patients and adenomatous goiter in 14. Transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was seen in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique is safe, minimally invasive, less time consuming, and cosmetically excellent.