Comparative study of endoscopic thyroidectomy via a breast approach versus conventional open thyroidectomy in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma patients

Background: Thyroid Carcinoma (TC) was the most frequent endocrine system malignant tumor with steadily increasing incidence in the past period of time, especially in young women. The cosmetic result of Endoscopic Thyroid surgery (ET) is superior to conventional Open Thyroid surgery (OT). Evaluation and comparison of the surgical results of ET via a Breast Approach (ETBA) and OT had been made in this study to investigate the usefulness of ETBA in Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma (PTMC) in lowrisk female patients. Methods: From June 2015 to June 2016, a total of 55 female patients who have be proved to have PTMC were enrolled and allocated into two groups on the basis of the different methods of the operation, 20 patients experienced ETBA, 35 patients underwent OT. Many variances were analysed between two groups respectively. Results: According to the comparison analysis for such as outcomes of perioperative period, postoperative complications, pain after surgery and cosmetic outcomes, the results showed that not only improve cosmetic effect, ETBA go through less pain and dose not add risk of postoperative complications. Conclusion: ETBA was found to be similar to conventional OT in terms of early surgical outcomes, however, patients could get more satisfactory cosmetic effect without obvious scar in the neck. ETBA can be viewed as an acceptable alternative method in low-risk PTMC in female patients.