Feasibility of Endoscopic Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Carcinoma

Comparison of Effectiveness and Safety of Thyroidectomy for Thyroid Carcinoma in Patients Undergo Endoscopic Surgery and Those Receive Conversion

Endoscopic thyroidectomy has been used to treat thyroid diseases in China. However, whether this technique is rational to treat thyroid carcinoma is still in controversy. The diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma is predominantly made according to intra-operative frozen section pathological examination in China. In this research, the investigators want to compare clinical index (blood loss, operation duration, number of lymph nodes dissected, complication rates, etc) between patients underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy ( total thyroidectomy) and those underwent conversion to open procedure. The investigators want to evaluate the technical feasibility of endoscopic thyroidectomy for treating thyroid carcinoma.

intra-operative diagnosis of thyroid carcinoma is usually considered the indication of conversion to open surgery. with accumulation of experience of endoscopic thyroidectomy, the investigators want to evaluate the technical feasibility, completeness and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• lesion diameter less than 1 cm by ultrasound

Exclusion Criteria:

• frozen section diagnosis indicates benign lesion