Minimally Invasive Approaches for Thyroid Surgery-Pitfalls and Promises

Abstract

Purpose of review: To provide an overview of the feasibility and safety of current minimally invasive remote-access approaches for thyroid surgery, in view of the amounting new challenges and paradigm shifts in the management of thyroid pathologies.

Recent findings: Over the past two decades, several remote-access approaches for thyroid surgery have been developed to improve cosmesis; however, none has been widely adopted extensively in the Western world. The recently emerged transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy via vestibular approach (TOETVA) is the only true minimally invasive approach, completely avoiding skin incisions. It has a relatively short learning curve, midline surgical view, accessible surgical equipment, and relatively broad inclusion criteria with promising surgical outcomes as reported to date. TOETVA has proven to be safe and feasible for carefully selected patients. Further experience and long-term follow-up are needed to define the added value of TOETVA except for improved cosmetic outcome.

Keywords: Minimally invasive thyroidectomy; Remote-access thyroidectomy; TOETVA; Transoral thyroidectomy.