Robotic versus endoscopic transoral thyroidectomy in papillary thyroid cancer: A comparative analysis of surgical outcomes in 240 consecutive patients

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study compared the surgical outcomes of transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) and transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS: The TOETVA and TORT groups comprised 119 and 121 patients between November 2016 and May 2022. Clinico-surgical outcomes and operation times were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: The TORT group showed a higher number of retrieved central compartment lymph nodes, shorter hospital stays, and lower pain score after 48 h than the TOETVA group. No significant difference was observed in the other postoperative complications, including permanent vocal cord palsy. Total operation, working space creation, and endoscopic or robotic surgery times of the TORT group were longer than those of the TOETVA group. CONCLUSIONS: TORT and TOETVA are feasible and safe. TORT may have some advantages, such as central compartment node dissection, shorter hospital stays, and pain score after 48 h in PTC, despite a longer operative time.