What Are the Pros and Cons of Minimally Invasive Thyroid Surgery?

The advantages of minimally invasive thyroid surgery are that it does not leave obvious scars on the neck after surgery. However, its disadvantages lie in the small surgical space, which makes it difficult to expose the surgical field, potentially increasing the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Additionally, it may result in incomplete ligation of thyroid blood vessels, leading to increased intraoperative and postoperative bleeding. There is also a possibility of incomplete removal of posterior clavicular lymph nodes.

Minimally invasive surgery is a small-scale procedure with rapid recovery and no obvious scars. Its goal is to minimize surgical trauma and harm. The use of minimally invasive surgery for thyroid diseases leaves no scars on the neck and does not affect thyroid function.

Minimally invasive surgery is not suitable for everyone. If the lesion is too large, located in a special position, or is malignant, minimally invasive surgery may not be thorough. Minimally invasive surgery includes laparoscopy and ablation. Laparoscopy has blind spots and may miss other lesions, while ablation can only solidify tumors, limiting its application to benign tumors and unable to remove metastatic lymph nodes.

If thyroid diseases are suspected, timely examination at the hospital is recommended, including B-ultrasound and blood tests, to confirm the diagnosis. Based on the condition, a suitable treatment plan should be chosen. Minimally invasive surgery is suitable for patients with small lesions and mild conditions. Regardless of the treatment method used, the ultimate goal is to cure the disease.