title: Minimally invasive thyroidectomy (MIT): indications and results.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish if the indication for different approaches for thyroidectomy and the incision length provided by means of pre-operative assessment of gland volume and size of nodules resulted in safe and effective outcomes and in any notable aesthetic or quality-of-life impact on patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninehundred eightytwo consecutive patients, undergoing total thyroidectomy, were enrolled. The thyroid volume and maximal nodule diameter were measured by means of ultrasounds. Based on ultrasounds findings, patients were divided into three groups: minimally invasive video assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT), minimally invasive thyroidectomy (MIT) and conventional thyroidectomy (CT) groups. The data concerning the following parameters were collected: operative time, postoperative complications, postoperative pain and cosmetic results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MIVAT group included 179 patients, MIT group included 592 patients and CT group included 211 patients. Incidence of complications did not differ significantly in each group. In MIVAT and MIT group, the perception of postoperative pain was less intense than CT group. The patients in the MIVAT (7±1.5) and MIT (8±2) groups were more satisfied with the cosmetic results than those in CT group (5±1.3) (p= <0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MIT is a technique totally reproducible, and easily convertible to perform surgical procedures in respect of the patient, without additional complications, increased costs, and with better aesthetic results.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Docimo
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvatore Tolone
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gili
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: d'Alessandro
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Casalino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brusciano
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruggiero
authors.forename: Ludovico
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Docimo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery