The axillary access in unilateral thyroid resection

Abstract

Background and study aims: With this study, we intended to find out if it is possible to avoid the typical scar after thyroid resection by using a 20 mm axillary access and a 3.5 mm incision in the jugulum.

Materials and methods: We present the results of our proof-of-concept study with 12 patients. For this technique, a modified axilloscope and ultrasonic scissors were used, which permit a total resection of the unilateral thyroid.

Results: The feasibility of this endoscopic technique was shown by the successful operation of these patients with unilateral pathological findings. Furthermore, we showed that this technique allows to resect tissue up to a whole lobe while at the same time finding and identifying the recurrent laryngeal nerve and subsequently verifying the findings by using the neuro-monitoring system.

Conclusions: This study shows that endoscopic thyroid surgery approximates the norms of endocrine neck surgery. The presented method is useful in thyroid surgery for patients with single nodules and a small thyroid gland.