title: Can robotic thyroidectomy be performed safely in thyroid carcinoma patients?
abstract: Since the adoption of the Da Vinci robotic system for remote access thyroid surgery, robotic thyroidectomy (RT) has become a popular surgical option for patients who want to avoid neck scars. Surgeons in South Korea pioneered this surgical technique and have reported successful outcomes. Although many studies have reported that RT is a feasible and safe therapeutic alternative, concerns over the surgical and oncological safety of RT remain. This article reviews the advantages and disadvantages of RT and compares the surgical safety and oncological completeness of RT with conventional open thyroidectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Boramae Medical Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyu Eun
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. ; Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeo-Kyu
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Youn
keywords: Bilateral axillo-breast approach; Robot-assisted thyroidectomy; Robotic thyroidectomy; Thyroid neoplasms; Transaxillary thyroidectomy