Robotic thyroidectomy: Evolution and Outcomes

Abstract

Recently robotic thyroidectomy has gained its popularity for the treatment of differentiated thyroid cancer and benign thyroid tumors. It has been developed to overcome the drawbacks of conventional open trans-cervical thyroidectomy, which is an apparent neck wound that is visible unless concealed with clothes. Robotic thyroidectomy provides surgeons with three-dimensional magnified view and multiarticulated robotic arms that can stabilize hand tremors. It also has advantages over conventional trans-cervical thyroidectomy that include recovery of voice symptoms and acoustic parameters along with superior cosmetic outcomes. Robotic thyroidectomy results in equivalent surgical outcomes including oncologic safety and complications compared with conventional thyroidectomy. Various approaches including transaxillary, postauricular facelift, and breast-axillary approaches have been developed for robotic thyroidectomy. Recently, the indication of robotic surgery has been extended to neck dissection of the lateral compartment. Herein we summarize the indication, procedures, and efficacy of robotic thyroidectomy, and also introduce our experience with robotic thyroidectomy.