title: Endoscopic retroauricular thyroidectomy: preliminary results.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We sought to seek the potential role of endoscopic thyroidectomy with the retroauricular (RA) approach prior to future comparative study with the robotic RA thyroidectomy. Therefore, this study aims to verify the surgical feasibility of endoscopic RA thyroidectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen patients who underwent endoscopic RA thyroidectomy for clinically suspicious papillary thyroid carcinoma or benign lesions from January to December 2013 were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All endoscopic operations via RA or modified facelift approach were successfully performed, without any significant intraoperative complications or conversion to open surgery. Based on patient-reported outcome questionnaires, all patients were satisfied with their postoperative surgical scars.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic RA thyroidectomy is technically feasible and safe with satisfactory cosmetic results for patients where indicated.
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyung Kwon
authors: HK
authors: Byeon
authors: Division of Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Otolaryngology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
authors: F Christopher
authors: FC
authors: Holsinger
authors: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors: Ralph P
authors: RP
authors: Tufano
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital, Cheonan, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae Hong
authors: JH
authors: Park
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea.
authors: Nam Suk
authors: NS
authors: Sim
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea.
authors: Won Shik
authors: WS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea.
authors: Eun Chang
authors: EC
authors: Choi
authors: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Republic of Korea. ywkohent@yuhs.ac.
authors: Yoon Woo
authors: YW
authors: Koh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D004954:Esthetics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Endoscopic thyroidectomy; Minimally invasive surgery; Modified facelift approach; Remote access; Retroauricular approach