South Korean medical studies report high success in robotic thyroid surgeries

Recent medical studies in South Korea have highlighted the efficacy and safety of various robotic surgical techniques for thyroid and gynecological conditions.

A large-scale study conducted by researchers at Yonsei Cancer Hospital, including Professor Kang Sang-wook, analyzed 10,504 patients undergoing axillary robotic thyroid surgery for differentiated thyroid cancer over an 18-year period. The study found a low long-term recurrence rate of 0.9%. Findings indicated that recurrence locations were more closely linked to the initial extent of lymph node metastasis rather than the specific surgical approach or robotic direction.

Separately, Ain Hospital released findings from a study of 500 Single-Port Retroareolar Approach (SPRA) robotic thyroid surgeries. The research, published in 'Updates in Surgery', demonstrated short-term safety with low complication rates, including a 0.6% temporary vocal cord movement impairment and a 0.2% permanent vocal cord paralysis rate. The study suggests the method is applicable for lymph node dissection and re-operation.