Comparison of video-assisted thyroidectomy and traditional thyroidectomy for the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma

There is concern regarding the oncological effectiveness of minimally invasive video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT) for thyroid carcinoma. This study compared the surgical results of VAT and traditional thyroidectomy in patients with small papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC).

Of 44 patients with PTC offered the choice between VAT and traditional thyroidectomy, 21 underwent VAT and 23 underwent traditional thyroidectomy. Residual thyroid tissue and function were assessed postoperatively by measuring thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), T4, thyroglobulin, and anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels and with sonographic examination.

Operative time, maximum tumor size, number of positive lymph nodes, and TSH and T4 levels 4 weeks postoperatively were similar in the two groups (all p > 0.05). Patients in the traditional thyroidectomy group had significantly higher postoperative serum thyroglobulin levels 4 weeks after surgery than did patients in the VAT group (5.4 versus 0.5 ng/ml, respectively; p = 0.007). Postoperative ultrasonography showed no residual thyroid tissue or evidence of recurrence in any of the patients. The median follow-up period was 60 months (range 31–77 month) for the VAT group and 53 months (range 31–80 months) for the traditional thyroidectomy group. Thyroglobulin levels of all patients in both groups decreased to <0.2 ng/ml at last follow-up.

VAT is safe and effective for the treatment of small papillary thyroid carcinomas, and has similar oncological effectiveness to traditional thyroidectomy.