title: Comparison of Robotic versus Conventional Selective Neck Dissection and Total Thyroidectomy for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma.
abstract: To compare the surgical outcomes of robotic selective neck dissection (SND) with total thyroidectomy and conventional transcervical SND with total thyroidectomy.
  
  
  
  Case series with chart review.
  
  
  
  University tertiary care facility.
  
  
  
  We retrospectively analyzed 66 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy with SND (≥3 levels of II-V) and bilateral central neck dissection for cN1b papillary thyroid carcinoma, of whom 41 underwent conventional SND and 25 of whom underwent robotic SND. Subjective pain, sensory change, and cosmetic satisfaction were evaluated regularly for 3 months with a questionnaire.
  
  
  
  Compared with the conventional group, patients in the robotic group were younger (mean, 36.7 vs 47.5 years; P = .003) and more female dominant (96.0% vs 73.2%; P = .023). Mean total operative time was longer in the robotic group than the conventional group (298 vs 236 minutes; P < .001). Anterior chest pain was higher in the robotic group at postoperative 1 day (pain score, 1.88 vs 0.62; P = .011), 1 week (1.30 vs 0.43; P = .036), and 1 month (0.90 vs 0.18; P = .029). Postoperative cosmetic satisfaction was significantly superior in the robotic group.
  
  
  
  Compared with conventional transcervical SND with total thyroidectomy, robotic SND with total thyroidectomy yields superior outcomes for cosmetic satisfaction, longer operative time, and higher chest pain in the short term. Further study with a larger number of patients is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Chang Myeon
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Bae
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eui Suk
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Sung
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Sun
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hye Ryoung
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea kytae@hanyang.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kyung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tae
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D037981:Neck Dissection / Q000379:methods*; D061646:Operative Time; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D065287:Robotic Surgical Procedures; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: lateral neck dissection; robotic neck dissection; robotic thyroidectomy; selective neck dissection; thyroid cancer