Journal: Scientific reports
This study retrospectively evaluated trans-submental endoscopic thyroidectomy (TSET) in 95 patients with benign thyroid nodules ≤4 cm or papillary thyroid carcinoma ≤3 cm without metastasis.
TSET aimed to improve cosmetic outcomes compared to the oral vestibular approach. Procedures included partial and total thyroidectomies, with or without unilateral central neck dissection.
The mean operative time was 158 minutes. No permanent complications, such as recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or hypoparathyroidism, were reported.
Key findings include:
- Transient nerve palsy occurred in 2 cases and resolved with conservative treatment.
- Patients had high satisfaction due to hidden submental scars and absence of infections.
- With a mean follow-up of 14 months, no tumor recurrence was observed.
Overall, TSET is a safe and feasible technique that offers good aesthetic results and has potential for wider clinical use.