Trans-oral endoscopic thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOETVA) for the pediatric population: a multicenter, large case series

Oded Cohen, Ralph P. Tufano, Angkoon Anuwong, Jonathon O. Russell, Niddal Assadi, Gianlorenzo Dionigi, Hoon Yub Kim, Antonio Bertelli, Avi Khafif

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: A cervical scar has been shown to have an impact on the quality of life of children undergoing thyroid surgery. Transoral endoscopic vestibular thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach (TOETVA) offers the absence of a cutaneous incision, and has not been described to date in the pediatric population. Objective: To describe the first series of TOETVA in a pediatric population. Patients and methods: A retrospective, multicenter study, including all patients > 18 years old who underwent TOETVA. Data was prospectively collected and included demographics, preoperative ultrasound, cytology and indications for surgery. Intraoperative parameters included length of surgery and complications, with final pathology and postoperative course also reviewed. TOETVA surgical success was defined as completion of surgery via this approach. Results: Forty-eight children were included. Of these, 43 (89.5%) were girls. The median age was 16 years (range 10–17). The most common indication for surgery was a benign thyroid nodule (n = 26, 54.1%). Eleven patients (22.9%) had papillary thyroid carcinoma on final pathology, of which 90.9% (10/11) were diagnosed pre-operatively based on FNA cytology. Hemithyroidectomy was performed in 36 patients (75%). All surgeries were completed endoscopically. The mean malignant tumor size was 1.4 ± 0.4 cm and all tumors were completely excised with clean margins. No permanent complications were documented. A single patient (2.1%) had transient RLN injury (1.6%, 1/60 nerves at risk). Transient hypocalcemia was documented in 4 of the 12 patients undergoing total thyroidectomy (33.3%). Transient mental nerve injury/chin hypoesthesia was documented in 2 patients (4.2%). Conclusions: TOETVA appears to be a feasible and safe approach for thyroidectomy in the pediatric population in carefully selected cases, and may be discussed with patients and parents as an alternative for the trans-cervical approach.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2507-2513
Number of pages7
JournalSurgical endoscopy
Volume36
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2022

Keywords

  • TOETVA
  • pediatric thyroidectomy
  • scarless thyroid
  • thyroidectomy
  • transoral thyroidectomy
  • vestibular approach

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery

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