Current concepts in thyroid gland surgery: transoral endoscopic and robotic surgical procedures

Abstract

The increased incidence of thyroid cancer in young females may raise concerns about visible hypertrophic scarring on the center of the neck after thyroid gland surgery. Therefore, endoscopic surgical procedures have attracted significant interest from patients with thyroid cancer, leading to the development of various endoscopic and robotic approaches. Although the cosmetic outcomes of current endoscopic and robotic thyroid surgeries have been excellent, all the procedures still require a large incision and extensive flap elevation. Transoral endoscopic thyroid surgery is a newly developed surgical method performed by inserting an endoscope through a mucosal opening created in the mouth, obviating the need for a skin incision. Additionally, the dissection area is relatively small and no dressings are required. Showering or shaving may resume the day after surgery and the port created within the oral mucous membrane generally heals within one week. Importantly, this approach is markedly less invasive than other endoscopic approaches. Although transoral endoscopic thyroid surgery has not yet been universally accepted, it may emerge as the preferred method for thyroid surgery in the near future.