TT done via Endoscopic Surgery ? ....

[ChitChatNine]

Hi Dr. Lupo,

Was wondering if you have any info on thyroidectomies being done via endoscopic surgery through the armpit I believe it is?  There's been some posts on the P2P Thyroid Community about this procedure and as Co-CL on the Thyroid Disorders Community, we'd love to cross-post back to some of these inquisitive posts your thoughts on this procedure.

As you may recall, I had a partial thyroidectomy 2.5yrs ago myself, but I cannot recall at that time ever hearing of such a procedure.

Also, are there more risks or is the risk/benefit factor less for vocal cord injury or parathyroid injuries during surgery.

The last ? is whether this is available in the US or is it overseas only?

Our community thanks you for your time and dedication on your Expert Community -- we oftentimes will refer our members back to posts here, too!

C~
Co-CL Thyroid Disorders Community

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

The axillary approach is not used in the US outside some university settings.  Most reports I believe have been from China.  Endoscopic approaches may not be much safer for voice or parathyroid complications. More research is needed on this.

[stella5349]

CC9

I think Smilerdeb had this procedure.

[ChitChatNine]

Yes. She did ....I suppose that by still having 1/2 of my thyroid intact, and the possible prospect of one day having to have it removed if my "stable" nodule changes or becomes suspicious for cancer, I may be extremely interested in this procedure given the fact I had complications of spitting stitches and stitch abscesses along with a secondary cyst that became infected and had to be removed above the incision line.  That secondary cyst was benign and deemed a 1.5cm "infectious granuloma" whose scar is worse than the partial thyroidectomy!

The no-scar is most appealing for those, like me who don't heal so well!

C~

[basketaggie]

I just wanted to clarify that I'm not completely scarless. I have a 2 inch? scar going down my armpit, and a very small scar on my chest. Its just less noticeable than having it the conventual way.

[ChitChatNine]

I thought they would be small incisions like for knee or shoulder arthroscopic, (small), but that's ok .. those scars can be hidden.  

[ChitChatNine]

Thank you Dr. Lupo!

[basketaggie]

I was able to find a few articles online about the specific machine used for mine, I can send you links if you want. I know they do them in Chicago and TX where I am at. It specifically says in the articles how the camera allows them to see the parathyroid glands and vocal cords in such clarity that it helps with preventing accidental damage.

[Mark Lupo, M.D.]

Visualization of the nerve and parathyroids is critical -- just because the camera can see them well (as plainly as we see them during traditional minimal invasive surgery) does not mean that damage is less likely.