Changing paradigms in endoscopic thyroid surgery: A comparison between scarless-in-the-neck axillo-breast approach and totally scarless transoral approach

BACKGROUND: To avoid cervical scar in thyroid surgery, various approaches have been proposed. The commonly used approach is combined axillo-breast approach (ABA). However, trans-orovestibular approach (TOVA) is getting popular. The aim of this study is to compare surgical outcomes of patients who underwent endoscopic hemithyroidectomy (EHT) by either ABA or TOVA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis of clinical data of patients who underwent EHT from January 2013 to December 2018. Patients were divided into two groups: Group A – through ABA and Group B – through TOVA. RESULTS: A total of eighty patients underwent EHT in Group A and 25 in Group B. In both groups, most patients were female (male: female = 1:4.7 in Group A and 1:7.33 in Group B, P = 0.515). In both groups, there was no difference in age (the mean age was 33.44 ± 10.44 years in Group A and 33.04 ± 14.01 years in Group B, P = 0.391) and in size of the nodule (Group A – 3.91 ± 1.17 cm and Group B – 3.6 ± 1.39 cm, P = 0.228). The operating time was significantly less in Group B (Group A – 152.25 ± 30.19 mins and Group B – 126.80 ± 22.94 mins, P ≤ 0.01). The post-operative hospital stay was significantly less in Group B (mean 3.17 ± 0.97 days in Group A and 2.24 ± 0.60 days in Group B, P ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSION: TOVA is associated with shorter operating time and hospital stay with comparable outcomes. Cosmetic outcome is excellent in TOVA, however requires further subjective evaluation.