title: Comparison of the breast and areola approaches for endoscopic thyroidectomy in patients with microcarcinoma.
abstract: The safety, advantages and disadvantages of thyroidectomy for microcarcinoma through the areola approach and breast approach were compared. Fifty patients diagnosed with thyroid microcarcinoma in our department from January 2014 to June 2015 were selected. The areola approach was carried out for 21 patients whereas the breast approach for 29 patients. Endoscopic thyroid lobectomy, isthmus resection and dissection of central group lymph nodes was performed. The clinical outcomes of the two surgical approaches were compared. Comparing operating time, blood loss during surgery, number of lymph node dissections, postoperative hospitalization time and surgical complications between the surgical approaches, there were no significant differences (P>0.05). Comparing patient satisfaction of cosmetic results from the incisions, the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Endoscopic thyroidectomy via areola approach and breast approach have equal curative effects for the treatment of thyroid microcarcinoma. However, the areola approach can achieve better cosmetic results and is a safe and ideal surgical method, that we recommend be widely used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery for Vascular Thyroid and Hernia, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gaolei
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery for Vascular Thyroid and Hernia, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Zhilong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery for Vascular Thyroid and Hernia, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hailin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery for Vascular Thyroid and Hernia, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Su
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery for Vascular Thyroid and Hernia, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiaokai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery for Vascular Thyroid and Hernia, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221009, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xinbao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
keywords: breast approach; complete breast areola approach; endoscopic thyroidectomy; mamillary thyroid microcarcinoma