Minimal access thyroid surgery: is it feasible, is it appropriate?

Background: Reports of minimal access thyroid surgery (MATS) using various techniques have recently appeared. This study examined the feasibility of MATS using either a lateral 'focused' or endoscopically assisted approach.

Methods: The study group comprised all patients undergoing minimally invasive parathyroidectomy (MIP) during the period May 1998 to April 2002 in whom a concomitant thyroid procedure was undertaken. All procedures were performed either through a 2-cm lateral cervical incision (n = 19) or endoscopically (n = 7).

Results: Twenty-six patients underwent thyroid surgery, consisting of either local excision of a thyroid nodule (n = 25) or hemi-thyroidectomy (n = 1). In 13 patients the nodule was incidentally discovered, in four patients removal of the parathyroid necessitated partial thyroidectomy, and in nine patients the lesion identified by preoperative parathyroid localization proved to be a thyroid nodule. There were no permanent complications in the study group. Two patients required drainage of a haematoma. The final pathology of all 26 cases revealed benign nodular thyroid disease.

Conclusion: Thyroid surgery can safely be performed as a minimally invasive procedure. Minimal access thyroid surgery is therefore a feasible option for selected patients. The question remains to be answered as to whether this surgical approach is appropriate treatment for nodular thyroid disease.