Transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT): procedures and outcomes

Abstract

Remote-access approaches to the thyroid gland have seen a rapid evolution recently with the development of various techniques to minimize the cosmetic and quality-of-life impact of a visible scar. Most approaches have required significantly more tissue dissection and have been limited in their extent to treat contralateral disease. The transoral approach is the most recent iteration of "scarless" thyroidectomy and offers various advantages over other techniques including less tissue dissection, equal access to both sides of the neck, and a superb midline view of the anatomy. Transoral thyroidectomy may be performed with either laparoscopic or robotic technology, each with various advantages and disadvantages. Herein, we discuss our experience with transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT).