Bilateral robotic-assisted transaxillary surgery.
OBJECTIVE
Robotic-assisted transaxillary surgery (RATS) for the removal of thyroid glands is feasible by surgeons in the United States.


METHODS
Case report.


METHODS
Academic research. Patient A 53-year-old woman.


METHODS
Total thyroidectomy via the transaxillary approach.


METHODS
Successful completion thyroidectomy using bilateral RATS.


RESULTS
Right thyroid lobectomy was performed via RATS to remove a 2.2-cm Hurthle cell neoplasm of the thyroid gland per cytologic analysis. Final pathologic analysis was consistent with minimally invasive follicular thyroid carcinoma. The patient then underwent completion thyroidectomy via left-sided RATS. There were no complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Bilateral RATS to perform total thyroidectomy is a feasible option in properly selected patients. To our knowledge, this is the first reported use of this technique in the United States.
Landry
Christine S
CS
Section of Surgical Endocrinology, Department of Surgical Oncology, University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Grubbs
Elizabeth G
EG
Perrier
Nancy D
ND
D018249:Adenoma, Oxyphilic / Q000601:surgery*; D001365:Axilla; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012371:Robotics; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*