Robotic lateral neck dissection by a gasless unilateral axillobreast approach for differentiated thyroid carcinoma: our early experience.

The aim of this study was to determine the technical feasibility and intraoperative safety of robotic lateral neck dissection in differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC). We analyzed 12 patients with DTC who underwent robotic total thyroidectomy and lateral selective neck dissection by a gasless unilateral axillobreast approach. The procedure was completed successfully in all patients. The mean console time for robotic lateral neck dissection was 54.2 ± 21.5 minutes. Transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in 5 patients, and transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and chyle leak occurred in 1 patient each. Cosmetic satisfaction was excellent in all patients. Robotic lateral neck dissection by a gasless unilateral axillobreast approach for DTC is feasible and safe and allows for excellent postoperative cosmesis in preliminary results. Further studies are needed to establish oncologic safety and surgical completeness compared with conventional neck dissection.