Comparative Analysis of Three Lobectomy Methods for Papillary Thyroid Cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The current study examined the validity and outcomes of three lobectomy methods for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), open surgery, minimally invasive video- assisted thyroidectomy (MIVAT), and endoscopic surgery.Methods: Between January 2006 and June 2011, 360 patients underwent lobectomy for treatment of PTC. Clinical data were collected and analyzed retrospectively. Open lobectomy, MIVAT, and endoscopic lobectomy were performed in 170 (47.2%, Group A), 81 (22.5%, Group B), and 109 patients (30.3%, Group C), respectively. Median tumor size was 0.5 cm.Results: No significant differences in tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, extrathyroidal extension, and metastatic lymph node number were observed among the groups. However, the mean number of retrieved central lymph nodes was higher in the open surgery group than in the other groups (8.9, 4.9, and 5.8 in Groups A, B, and C, respectively P＜0.05). Postoperative bleeding occurred in one patient each in Group A. Temporary hypo-parathyroidism developed in ten, three, and three patients in Groups A, B, and C, res-pectively. Recurrence occurred in five cases (1.4%), however, no significant difference in short-term recurrence (median duration of follow up: 1,109 days) was observed among the three groups. Conclusion: The number of retrieved central lymph nodes was higher in the open surgery group. However, no differences in the incidence of complications or short-term recurrence were observed among the groups, indicating that either one of these methods can be recommended as limited surgery for PTC.