title: Robot-assisted thyroidectomy: early experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The numbers of thyroid surgeries have been increasing recently. Robot-assisted thyroidectomy allows for a better cosmetic outcome in comparison with conventional open thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed two robot-assisted endoscopic thyroidectomies by a gasless unilateral axillo-breast approach using the da Vinci surgical robot system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed right thyroid lobectomies in both patients. The pathologic reports were: micropapillary carcinoma without extracapsular invasion in patient 1 and a benign cyst in patient 2. The operation times were 165 minutes in patient 1 and 110 minutes in patient 2. No postoperative complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regarding our early experience, robotic thyroidectomy using the gasless axillo-breast approach is a safe, feasible, and cosmetically good procedure.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Dong-A University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors: Heon Soo
authors: HS
authors: Park
authors: Jong Chul
authors: JC
authors: Hong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012371:Robotics; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*