OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility, safety, and cosmetic efficacy of endoscope-assisted thyroidectomy (EAT) by chest approach. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with single benign thyroid nodule < or = 4.0 cm in diameter, and without history of neck surgery or irradiation, 8 males and 43 females, aged 33.9 (18-64), underwent endoscope-assisted thyroidectomy by chest approach: a skin incision with the length of 4 cm was made in the chest, an endoscope was inserted, and subtotal or total thyroidectomy with the technique similar to that in conventional surgery was performed with naked eyes. RESULTS: Subtotal thyroidectomy was performed in 49 patients, and total excision of unilateral thyroid lobe plus isthmus lobectomy and contralateral partial lobectomy was performed on the other 2 patients. No patient was transferred to traditional surgery. Only one case showed palsy of recurrent nerve. Most patients expressed with the cosmetic results. CONCLUSION: EAT is a feasible and safe procedure with rather good cosmetic
[Endoscope-assisted thyroidectomy by chest approach with good cosmetic results] Publishing Authors By Initials