Yong Bae Ji

Early surgical outcomes of robotic thyroidectomy by a gasless unilateral axillo-breast or axillary approach for papillary thyroid carcinoma: 2 years' experience.

The efficacy of robotic thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer has not yet been assessed. The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and completeness of robotic thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC).

Roles of ultrasonography and computed tomography in the surgical management of cervical lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid carcinoma

AIMS Adequate evaluation and surgical management of cervical lymph node metastasis is very important in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of preoperative ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) on the surgical management of cervical lymph node metastases in PTC. METHODS Medical records and imaging findings were retrospectively analyzed for 252 patients with PTC who underwent thyroidectomy with neck dissection. RESULTS The sensitivity of both imaging techniques was lower in the central neck (US 23%, CT 41%) than in the lateral neck (US 70%, CT 82%). The specificities of US and CT were 97% and 90% in the central neck, and 84% and 64% in the lateral neck, respectively. Our surgical plans for therapeutic neck dissection were based on imaging findings in 59% of patients who underwent lateral compartment neck dissection and in 32.1% of patients who underwent central compartment neck dissection, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The roles of preoperative US and CT in surgical planning for central compartment neck dissection in PTC are limited because of their low sensitivity in the central neck, but US and CT may be useful in cases with non-palpable lateral neck nodes.

Comparative study of robotic versus endoscopic thyroidectomy by a gasless unilateral axillo‐breast or axillary approach

Robotic thyroidectomy and conventional endoscopic thyroidectomy have not been thoroughly compared. In this study, we compared the potential advantages of robotic versus endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Initial experience with a gasless unilateral axillo-breast or axillary approach endoscopic thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma: comparison with conventional open thyroidectomy.

The efficacy of various endoscopic thyroidectomy has not been determined for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). We compared 31 consecutive patients with PTMC who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy by a gasless unilateral axillo-breast or axillary approach, and the 36 PTMC patients who underwent conventional open thyroid lobectomy from August 2005 to December 2008. There were more female patients (P=0.004) in the endoscopic group, and the mean age of endoscopic group was younger than that of the open thyroidectomy group (P=0.006). The entire endoscopic thyroidectomy was successfully completed in all the patients. The operative time was longer for those undergoing endoscopic thyroidectomy (P<0.001). The complication rate did not differ between the 2 groups. The cosmetic satisfaction, as evaluated by questionnaire, was greater in the endoscopic group (P<0.001). Endoscopic thyroidectomy by a gasless unilateral axillo-breast or axillary approach for selected cases of PTMC is a feasible, safe, and cosmetically superior procedure.

Characteristics and significance of minimal and maximal extrathyroidal extension in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES Maximal extrathyroidal extension (ETE) is known to be an important prognostic factor in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). However, the significance of minimal ETE is controversial. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinicopathologic characteristics and prognostic significance of minimal vs maximal ETE in PTC. MATERIALS AND METHODS A group of 967 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for PTC in a tertiary hospital between January 2000 and December 2011 were studied retrospectively. Patients were classified into three groups: absence of ETE, and minimal and maximal ETE. The minimal ETE group was further categorized into two subgroups according to invasion of strap muscles or no invasion (STI+ and STI-). RESULTS Gender did not differ between the three groups of patients. The mean age of the patients with maximal ETE was significantly higher than in those belonging to the other groups. Tumor size, bilaterality, lymph node metastasis and stage increased significantly according to the degree of ETE. Recurrence and survival rates did not differ between the absence and minimal ETE groups, or between the STI- and STI+ subgroups of minimal ETE. However, the maximal ETE group had significantly higher recurrence and lower survival rates than the other groups (P<0.001). CONCLUSION Maximal ETE is a significant factor for poor prognosis. However, minimal ETE is not associated with increased recurrence or decreased survival in patients with PTC.

Robotic selective neck dissection using a gasless postauricular facelift approach for early head and neck cancer: technical feasibility and safety.

UNLABELLED Abstract Background: Scarless and minimally invasive surgery is becoming popular in the head and neck area. We have developed a new robotic selective neck dissection procedure for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) to avoid a long visible lateral neck scar. Here we report on the technical feasibility and safety of our procedure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS We prospectively analyzed 4 patients with early HNSCC who underwent transoral robotic surgery (TORS) and concomitant robotic selective neck dissection via a gasless postauricular facelift approach using the da Vinci(®) Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA). RESULTS Of these patients, 3 were male, and 1 was female. The mean age was 59.0±8.8 years. All patients had tongue cancer, with a clinically negative neck. Three patients were T1, and 1 patient was T2. All patients underwent partial glossectomy by TORS and elective robotic selective neck dissection including levels I, II, and III. The robotic selective neck dissection procedure was completed successfully in all patients. The mean operative time was 276±48 minutes. The mean number of lymph nodes removed was 19.3±7.3. Postoperative hematoma and transient marginal nerve palsy occurred in 1 patient each. Cosmetic satisfaction was excellent in all patients. CONCLUSIONS Preliminary results indicate that robotic selective neck dissection via a gasless postauricular facelift approach is feasible and safe and allows for excellent postoperative cosmesis. Further studies are necessary to determine the oncologic safety and surgical completeness of this procedure compared with conventional neck dissection.

Relationship between hypoparathyroidism and the number of parathyroid glands preserved during thyroidectomy.

BackgroundThe relationship between the number of parathyroid glands preserved and hypoparathyroidism is not well understood. We sought to determine the number of parathyroid glands that need to be preserved to prevent hypoparathyroidism.MethodsWe analyzed 454 patients who underwent total thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid carcinoma. We analyzed the frequency of hypoparathyroidism according to the number of parathyroid glands preserved.ResultsIncidental parathyroidectomy occurred in 19.8% of the patients; one parathyroid gland in 17.6%, two in 1.5%, and three in 0.7%. Transient hypoparathyroidism was increased when incidental parathyroidectomy occurred (odds ratio 1.83, 95% confidence interval 1.04 to 3.23, P = 0.036) on multivariate regression analysis, but was not influenced by the actual number of parathyroid glands removed. There was no relationship between the number of parathyroid glands preserved and permanent hypoparathyroidism (P = 0.147).ConclusionsPreservation of all parathyroid glands decreases transient hypoparathyroidism compared with when three or fewer glands are preserved, but does not affect permanent hypoparathyroidism. During total thyroidectomy, preserving at least one parathyroid gland with an intact blood supply appears to be sufficient to prevent permanent hypoparathyroidism when autotransplantation is not performed.

The role of laryngopharyngeal reflux as a risk factor in laryngeal cancer: a preliminary report.

Objectives To evaluate the significance of laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) as a risk factor in laryngeal cancer. Methods We performed a case-control study with 29 consecutive laryngeal cancer patients who had undergone 24-hour ambulatory double pH monitoring from 2003 to 2006. The control group included 300 patients who had undergone 24-hour ambulatory double pH monitoring due to LPR-related symptoms. We analyzed the prevalence of LPR and numerous parameters from the 24-hour ambulatory double pH monitoring in the laryngeal cancer patient and control groups. Pathologic LPR is defined when more than three episodes of LPR occur in 24 hours. Results The prevalence of pathologic LPR was significantly higher in the laryngeal cancer group than the control group (P=0.049). The reflux number of the upper probe was significantly higher in the laryngeal cancer group (P<0.001). However the effects of pathologic LPR on laryngeal cancer risk were diluted after adjusting for smoking and alcohol consumption in the multivariable logistic regression. Conclusion The pathologic LPR might be a possible risk factor in the development of laryngeal cancer. A further study should be necessary to verify the exact role of LPR in laryngeal cancer.

Robotic Selective Neck Dissection by a Postauricular Facelift Approach Comparison with Conventional Neck Dissection

Objectives The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of robot-assisted neck dissection by a postauricular facelift approach in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), compared with conventional neck dissection. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting University tertiary care hospital. Subjects and Methods Thirty HNSCC patients with clinically node negative necks (cN0) who underwent robot-assisted selective neck dissection (SND) by a postauricular facelift approach (11 patients, 12 necks) or conventional neck dissection (19 patients, 21 necks). Results The mean age was lower in the robotic group (P = .030). However, the distributions of gender and TNM stage did not differ between the two groups. The robotic SND was completed successfully in all patients. The mean operative time was longer in the robotic group (215 ± 56 min) than the conventional group (144 ± 43 min) (P < .001). The mean numbers of lymph nodes removed were 25.0 ± 7.4 and 28.9 ± 8.2 in the robotic and conventional group, respectively (P = .192), and the number of lymph nodes removed at each level also did not differ between the 2 groups. In addition, there was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the 2 groups, but cosmetic satisfaction was higher in the robot group (P = .002). Conclusions Robot-assisted SND by a postauricular facelift approach is comparable to conventional neck dissection in selected patients with cN0 HNSCC and results in excellent postoperative cosmesis.

Comparison of a gasless unilateral axillo-breast and axillary approach in robotic thyroidectomy

BackgroundNew approaches to robotic thyroidectomy help to prevent neck scarring and improve surgical ergonomics. The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy and advantages of a gasless unilateral axillary (GUA) approach and an axillo-breast (GUAB) approach in robotic thyroidectomy.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the data of 131 patients who underwent robotic thyroidectomy with or without central neck dissection using a GUAB (90 cases) or GUA (41 cases) approach between September 2009 and December 2011. We excluded patients who underwent simultaneous lateral neck dissection and cases within the learning curve. We compared patient and tumor characteristics, surgical outcomes, perioperative complications, and cosmetic satisfaction between the two approaches.ResultsRobotic thyroidectomy was successful in all patients. There were no differences in terms of patient and tumor characteristics, extent of thyroidectomy and central neck dissection, operative time, and postoperative complications between the two approaches. Cosmetic satisfaction was excellent in both groups. There was no difference in satisfaction with the cosmetic result in the neck area, but the GUA patients expressed higher satisfaction with the appearance of the breast.ConclusionsThe surgical outcomes of GUA and GUAB approaches are similar in robotic thyroidectomy. Both are safe, effective, and yield cosmetically excellent results when performed by an experienced robotic thyroid surgeon. However, a GUA approach is associated with superior cosmetic satisfaction with the appearance of the breast.