To investigate the feasibility and safety of transoral robotic selective lateral cervical lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer.

A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 7 patients who underwent selective cervical lymph node dissection via transoral approach for thyroid cancer treated in department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, 960 Hospital of PLA from Dec. 2020 to Aug. 2021. The operation time, postoperative hospital stay, postoperative drainage fluid volume, lymph node dissection number, cosmetic effect satisfaction and surgical complications of 7 patients were analyzed. Patients were followed up through outpatient service, telephone, wechat, etc.

All the 7 patients completed the operation successfully without transferring to open surgery. Among them, 4 cases underwent total thyroid resection, 3 cases underwent lobes and isthmus resection, 6 cases underwent level Ⅵ, Ⅲ, Ⅵ dissection, and 1 case performed level Ⅵ, Ⅲ, Ⅵ, Ⅴb dissection. The mean operation time was (166.857±10.134) min, the mean postoperative hospital stay was (6.429±1.178) d, the mean postoperative drainage volume was (246.857±92.047) ml, and the mean number of lateral lymph nodes was (12.286±5.336). Two patients presented with temporary hypoparathyroidism without temporary recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and no patients had permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury or permanent hypoparathyroidism. All patients without lymphatic leakage. Average follow-up (9.571±1.989)months, no relapse patients.

Selective cervical lymph node dissection for thyroid cancer is safe and feasible by transoral robotic, providing a new option for patients with special needs.