Gasless transaxillary endoscopic surgery for thyroid hemiagenesis with papillary thyroid carcinoma: a case report

Abstract

Background Thyroid hemiagenesis (THA) is a rare abnormality featured by the absence of one thyroid lobe, and there have been no reports of using endoscopic thyroidectomy to treat papillary thyroid carcinoma with THA. Case presentation A case of THA with a missing right lobe was reported. Ultrasonography revealed a Thyroid Imaging, Reporting and Data System (TI-RADS) 5 lesion on the thyroid. The patient underwent a gasless transaxillary endoscopic thyroidectomy (GTET) during which it was discovered that the thyroid gland was located on the opposite side and that there were anatomic malformations present. While GTET contributes to clear vision during surgery and excellent postsurgical appearance, lateral forces produced by the retractor may dislocate tissues, obscuring the targeted thyroid, thus increasing the operative difficulties. Conclusions Transaxillary endoscopic surgical strategy is not overall superior to conventional approach and should be chosen consciously.