Papers
18
Total Citations
1,000
H-Index
14
About
Yeo-Kyu Youn is a pioneering South Korean surgical oncologist whose career has been defined by his transformative contributions to minimally invasive and robotic thyroid surgery. He is best known as a leading developer and advocate of the Bilateral Axillo-Breast Approach (BABA) technique for robotic thyroidectomy, a method that eliminates visible neck scarring by accessing the thyroid gland through remote incisions in the axillary and breast regions. His landmark 2009 paper introducing the BABA robotic thyroidectomy using the da Vinci system has accumulated over 240 citations, establishing the foundational framework for scar-free thyroid surgery worldwide. Youn's subsequent work validated the technique's oncological soundness across large patient cohorts — including over 1,000 cases — and demonstrated surgical completeness comparable to conventional open thyroidectomy. He has also investigated patient-centered outcomes such as scarring, psychological distress, and post-operative sensory changes in the chest area, underscoring his commitment to quality of life alongside clinical efficacy. Beyond thyroid surgery, Youn has contributed to the field of adrenal surgery through systematic reviews comparing laparoscopic and robotic adrenalectomy approaches. With a body of work exceeding 870 cumulative citations, he remains a defining figure in the evolution of cosmetically sensitive, minimally invasive endocrine surgery.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5Bilateral Axillo-Breast Approach Robotic Thyroidectomy89 citations · 2011
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10