[Non-endoscopic minimally invasive thyroidectomy in papillary carcinoma. Our experience].

INTRODUCTION: Minimal access thyroid surgery, using various techniques, is increasingly being reported. The present study reviews our experience with thyroid surgery using a minimally invasive approach in a group of patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

METHODS: A total of 15 female patients with a thyroid nodule, not exceeding 2 cm, proven to be a papillary thyroid carcinoma at preoperative evaluation, underwent a total thyroidectomy with non endoscopic minimally invasive approach.

RESULTS: None of the patients presented intraoperative central lymphnode involvement. The cytologic preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by histology in all cases. One case of transient recurrent nerve palsy was observed immediately after surgery. No permanent nerve lesions were documented at 4 months. The hospital stay ranged from 48 to 72 hours. The iodine 131 uptake ranged from 0 to 2.13%, similar to that obtained with open thyroidectomy. All patients were satisfied for cosmetic result.

CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary results of this study showed that non endoscopic minimally invasive thyroidectomy could be proposed in patients with T1 papillary carcinoma. In our experience the results obtained with this technique are similar to that obtained with open thyroidectomy, with the great advantage of a minimal neck wound and shorter hospital stay. However a higher number of cases and a longer follow-up are needed to confirm the safety of this procedure on the management of papillary cancer of the thyroid.