Comparison of incidental parathyroid tissue detection rates on pathology after total thyroidectomy performed with or without near-infrared autofluorescence imaging.

Background: Near-infrared autofluorescence imaging is an adjunct to parathyroid identification. As it does not show perfusion, it is important to study its impact during thyroidectomy by measuring quantifiable data on parathyroid detection rather than function. The aim of this study was to compare incidental parathyroidectomy rates in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy with or without near-infrared autofluorescence.

Near-infrared fluorescence in robotic thyroidectomy.

New imaging techniques using near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence in combination with remote access thyroidectomy have been studied in endocrine surgery to determine their utility, with the goal of reducing potential complications. Indocyanine green (ICG) imaging is a safe adjunct to remote access thyroid surgery. Nevertheless, experience with ICG is limited, and the caveats surrounding the use of ICG imaging in conventional thyroid surgery exist in remote access surgery as well.