The aim of this study was to determine the technical feasibility and intraoperative safety of robotic total thyroidectomy and central with lateral selective neck dissection by bilateral axillo-breast approach in lowrisk differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) with their lateral neck lymph node metastasis.

We analyzed 12 patients with DTC who underwent robotic total thyroidectomy and central with lateral selective neck dissection by bilateral axillo-breast approach in Aug. 2014 to Feb. 2015 in Jinan Military General Hosptial.

The procedure was completed successfully in all patients. The mean console time for robotic lateral neck dissection was (74 ± 12 )minutes in 12 patients, transient hypoparathyroidism occurred in 8 patients, after two weeks were back to normal, no transient recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy and no chyle leak occurred, and shortterm follow-up did not find the suspicious neck lymph nodes residual and lymph nodes recurrence. Cosmetic satisfaction was excellent in all patients.

Robotic total thyroidectomy and central with lateral selective neck dissection by bilateral axillo-breast approach in lowrisk DTC is feasible and allows for excellent postoperative cosmesis in preliminary results. Further studies are needed to establish oncologic safety and surgical completeness compared with conventional neck dissection.