title: Three-dimensional versus two-dimensional endoscopic-assisted thyroidectomy via the anterior chest approach: a preliminary report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of three-dimensional (3D) endoscopy for thyroidectomy and compare it to two-dimensional (2D) endoscopy. The major limitations of conventional endoscopy include its lack of depth perception and tactile feedback. The 3D endoscopy technique, which involves 3D imaging, is widely used. However, few reports have described the use of 3D endoscopic systems in thyroid surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this single-institutional study, 103 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy between July 2013 and April 2014 were enrolled. Of these, 32 patients chose 3D endoscopy, and 71 patients chose 2D endoscopy and were used as a control group. All patients were stratified by type of operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All 103 patients underwent a successful endoscopic-assisted thyroidectomy with no conversion to open surgery. There were no differences in operation time, intraoperative bleeding, postoperative drainage, the number of lymph nodes (LNs) dissected, major complications, and hospital stays. During a median follow-up of 28.0 months, no patients experienced a recurrence of thyroid cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary report demonstrates that 3D endoscopy achieved the same level of safety and effectiveness as 2D endoscopy in endoscopic-assisted thyroidectomies. Additionally, 3D endoscopy provided good depth perception and allowed the surgeon to easily recognize critical anatomical landmarks. Further large-scale studies, preferably prospective randomized control trials, are required to confirm this finding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.|Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Shi-Tong
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.|Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.|Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Faya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.|Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.|Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Peiliang
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.|Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China.
authors.forename: Renhui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, No. 107 Yan Jiang West Road, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China. xiaoming.huang@126.com.|Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Malignant Tumor Epigenetics and Gene Regulation, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510120, China. xiaoming.huang@126.com.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D061646:Operative Time; D061214:Patient Safety; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D013965:Thyroidectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Endoscopic thyroidectomy; Papillary thyroid carcinoma; Three-dimensional endoscopy