title: Comparative study of robotic versus endoscopic thyroidectomy by a gasless unilateral axillo-breast or axillary approach.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Robotic thyroidectomy and conventional endoscopic thyroidectomy have not been thoroughly compared. In this study, we compared the potential advantages of robotic versus endoscopic thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed 218 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic (105 cases) or robotic (113 cases) thyroidectomy using a gasless unilateral axillo-breast or gasless unilateral axillary approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Because of the dexterity of robotic instruments and the improved surgical view, it was subjectively easier and took less time to perform a complete total thyroidectomy and central compartment neck dissection in robotic thyroidectomy. In the case of unilateral lobectomy, endoscopic and robotic thyroidectomy had quite similar surgical outcomes. Cosmetic satisfaction was excellent in both groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this series by a single surgeon, robotic thyroidectomy was superior to endoscopic thyroidectomy for performing total thyroidectomy and bilateral central compartment neck dissection. However, in terms of cost-effectiveness, endoscopic thyroidectomy was comparable to robotic thyroidectomy in patients who undergo unilateral lobectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea. kytae@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tae
authors.forename: Yong Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Jin Hyeok
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Kyung Rae
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Woong Hwan
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: You Hern
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ahn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001365:Axilla / Q000601:surgery*; D001940:Breast / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult