A comparative analysis of endoscopic thyroidectomy versus conventional thyroidectomy in clinically lymph node negative thyroid cancer

PURPOSE Differentiated thyroid cancer has a good prognosis and high incidence in young women. Since endoscopic techniques were first recorded in 1996, surgical indications of endoscopic thyroidectomy have broadened. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the usefulness of endoscopic thyroidectomy in clinically lymph node negative (cN0) thyroid cancer patients, based on oncologic completeness and safety, considering cosmetic outcomes. METHODS From July 2009 to June 2011, a total of 166 cases had undergone endoscopic thyroidectomy using the BABA (bilateral axillo-breast approach) method or conventional open thyroidectomy by one surgeon. Finally, excluding 72 patients, 94 patients with cN0 thyroid cancer were divided into two groups according to operative methods and analyzed to compare differences between the two methods retrospectively (endoscopic group, n = 49; conventional open group, n = 45). RESULTS We practiced comparative analysis for clinicopathologic characteristics, surgical outcomes including postoperative complications, and recurred cases during follow-up periods of each group. The results showed there was a tendency for patients, young, women rather than men, and having small size of thyroid cancer, to prefer endoscopic surgery to open surgery. Meanwhile, in postoperative complications, there were no statistically significant differences. During short follow-up periods, no recurrence or mortality case was observed. CONCLUSION Endoscopic thyroidectomy is a feasible and safe method for the treatment of clinically lymph node negative (cN0) thyroid cancer.