title: Current status of endoscopic thyroid surgery in China.
abstract: The first cases of video-assisted thyroidectomy and scarless endoscopic thyroidectomy were reported in China in 2001 and 2002, respectively. Breast approach endoscopic thyroidectomy (BAET) has become the most popular procedure for treating thyroid disease in China. Chinese doctors did not pioneer this approach, but contributed toward improvement in technical details such as incision selection, creation of a working space, suture exposure, and control of intraoperative bleeding. Relatively large series confirmed that BAET is a safe procedure but has a long learning curve that can be overcome with training. Surgical stress was not significantly increased despite the larger subcutaneous dissection. BAET to treat malignancy is feasible, but larger series and longer follow-up are warranted before its widespread acceptance.
authors.affiliation: 18F Minimally Invasive Surgical Center of Changzheng Hospital affiliated to Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dao-zhen
authors.initials: DZ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Li-jie
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Li
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: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Qiu
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data