In-Depth Survey of Scarring and Distress in Patients Undergoing Bilateral Axillo-Breast Approach Robotic Thyroidectomy or Conventional Open Thyroidectomy.
Oncologic and surgical outcomes of bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) robotic thyroidectomy (RoT) are comparable with those of open thyroidectomy (OT). We compared degree of scarring and psychological/physical distress between OT and BABA RoT.



Study included 129 cases of thyroidectomy (78 OT, 51 BABA RoT). Patients were evaluated by psychology consultant using 5-point scale questionnaire.



BABA RoT was associated with lower degree of scarring than OT (7.8 vs. 11.7, P<0.001). Psychological distress immediately after operation and during surveillance period was higher in OT than in BABA RoT (3.1 vs. 2.6, P=0.009 and 2.4 vs. 1.9, P<0.001). Physical distress (pain and exercise limitation) did not differ between groups (2.5 vs. 2.6, P=0.321 and 2.0 vs. 1.9, P=0.0175).



BABA RoT was associated with less scarring and psychological distress than OT. BABA RoT might be alternative for patients who are concerned about neck scar.
*Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center §Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital ∥Department of Surgery, Seoul National University Hospital #Cancer Research Institute, Seoul National University, College of Medicine ‡Department of Counseling, Graduate School of Counseling Psychology, The Catholic University of Korea ¶Division of Surgery, Thyroid Center, Seoul National University Cancer Hospital, Seoul †Department of Surgery, Haeundae Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan **Department of Psychology, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea.
Do Hoon
DH
Koo
Da Myoung
DM
Kim
June Young
JY
Choi
Kyu Eun
KE
Lee
Seong Ho
SH
Cho
Yeo-Kyu
YK
Youn
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001365:Axilla; D001940:Breast; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult