title: Clinical benefits of scarless endoscopic thyroidectomy: an expert's experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  By comparison with the conventional surgical approach to thyroidectomy, scarless (in the neck) endoscopic thyroidectomy (SET) has a superior cosmetic result but a very long learning curve. The objective of the present study was to compare surgical outcomes of SET performed by an experienced surgeon with the outcomes of conventional thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrolled in this study were 25 patients who underwent SET and 18 who underwent conventional surgery. Differences in size of tumor, length of incision, duration of operation, volume of blood loss, pathological findings, postoperative pain, complications, and cosmetic result were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The two groups were well matched. The total length of incisions and volume of blood loss of SET were significantly lower than those of conventional surgery. In addition to the superior cosmetic result, postoperative pain was significantly less severe and rates of hypesthesia or paresthesia and discomfort while swallowing were significantly lower in the endoscopy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In experienced hands, SET offers more benefits than the conventional approach, including less postoperative pain and discomfort and a better cosmetic outcome.
authors.affiliation: 18F Minimally Invasive Surgical Center, Changzheng Hospital, and Second Military Medical University, No 415 Fengyang Road, Shanghai 200003, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhi-guo
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dao-zhen
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiang-min
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Hong-liang
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Cheng-xiang
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000517:prevention & control; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004954:Esthetics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery