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Erschienen in:
01.08.2004 | Original article
Video-assisted thyroidectomy for Graves’ disease: report of a preliminary experience
Erschienen in: Surgical Endoscopy | Ausgabe 8/2004
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Background
Ever since the introduction of video-assisted thyroidectomy (VAT), Graves’ disease has represented a contraindication. This study aimed to demonstrate that VAT can be proposed also for Graves’ disease.
Methods
From January 2002 to March 2003, 21 patients (20 women and 1 man) with Graves’ disease underwent VAT. One patient showed positive test results for gene RET. The mean age of the patients was 36.4 years.
Results
No conversions of procedure were necessary. The mean operative time was 56.9 min. The RET-positive patient underwent total thyroidectomy and central compartment lymphadenectomy. Postoperative bleeding occurred in the patient with the largest gland. Histology showed goiter in 18 cases, medullary carcinoma in 1 case, and papillary carcinoma in 2 cases. No cases of vocal cord palsy but three cases of transient hypocalcemia were registered.
Conclusions
Graves’ disease can be treated safely using VAT only if selection criteria are carefully respected. The young age of the patients with this disease encourages us to propose VAT for its good cosmetic and postoperative outcome.