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Background Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy, a novel technique, uses oral vestibule as the entry point and leaves no scar on the body surface. However, because the incisions are close to the mental nerve, nerve damage and the associated sensory impairment are concerning. Herein, we evaluated sensory alteration after transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy and determined factors associated with the prolonged sensory alteration. Methods Patients who underwent transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy were enrolled. Sensation over the lower lip, chin, and neck was evaluated before and after the surgery. A self-assessment questionnaire, Semmes–Weinstein monofilament test, and two-point discrimination test were used to subjectively and objectively evaluate sensory changes. Results Fifty-one patients were enrolled; most of them reported altered sensation, with chin (72.5%) being the most common site, followed by lower lip (52.9%), upper neck (33.3%), and lower neck (5.9%) on postoperative day 2. The sensory disturbance resolved within 3 months. Factors associated with prolonged sensory alteration are male sex and old age. Fourteen patients (27.5%) experienced mild drooling from the mouth, which was usually self-limiting in 1 month. Sensory impairments in light touch pressure threshold and two-point discrimination were significant in the chin and neck on postoperative day 2 and at 1 week. The ability to discern two-point was also compromised in the lower lip on postoperative day 2. All these significant changes normalized to preoperative baseline at 1 month. Conclusions There was an altered sensation after transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy with the most common and disturbed in the chin. Sensory impairment was usually transient and recovered in 3 months.

Background The transoral approach and the bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) are remote access approaches for endoscopic thyroidectomy. Both follow a symmetric design and use CO 2 insufflation to maintain the working space. The outcome differences between the techniques are rarely compared in the literature. Methods All patients who underwent endoscopic transoral ( n  = 72) and BABA ( n  = 63) thyroidectomy between October 2018 and August 2020 by a single surgeon were retrospectively reviewed. The following peri-operative data were collected and compared: operative time, blood loss, postoperative drainage amount, hospital stay, pain score, number of retrieved lymph nodes, and complications. Results Patients in the transoral group were younger (44.7 vs. 49.3 years, p  = 0.022) and had smaller tumors (2.4 vs. 2.8 cm, p  = 0.020) than those in the BABA group. The operative times were significantly longer in the transoral group than in the BABA group (lobectomy, 194.1 vs. 177.0 min, p  = 0.026; total thyroidectomy, 246.0 vs. 214.3 min, p  = 0.042). Nevertheless, the time difference became insignificant after completing the initial 20 cases of transoral thyroidectomy. The drainage fluid collected after the surgery was serosanguinous, and a lower drainage volume was observed in the transoral group than that in the BABA group (64.9 vs. 78.5 ml, p  = 0.017). However, there was no significant difference regarding the blood loss, hospital stay, postoperative pain score, and lymph nodes retrieved. The rate of postoperative complications, such as hypoparathyroidism and vocal cord palsy was comparable between the two groups. Conclusions Transoral approach and BABA are comparable with regard to surgical outcomes. Selected patients may choose either technique based on their preferences.

Background Endoscopic thyroidectomy has comparable surgical outcomes and superior cosmetic satisfaction to open thyroidectomy. However, steep learning curve is a concern. This study evaluated the learning curve of endoscopic thyroidectomy using various parameters and statistical methods. Methods A total of 90 consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy using bilateral axillo-breast approach (BABA) between March 2016 and April 2020 were enrolled. Operative time, postoperative drainage amount, and blood loss were assessed by cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis and moving average to evaluate the learning curve. Results Using the CUSUM analysis, the peak point of both operative time and drainage amount occurred at the 30th case. No clear single peak was identified in the CUSUM plot for blood loss. The moving average also showed significant reduction in operative time and drainage amount after, approximately, the first 30 cases. The blood loss decreased after the 25th case. We therefore divided the patients into 2 phases: phase 1 (1–30 cases) and phase 2 (31–90 cases). The operative time, drainage amount, and blood loss decreased significantly in the phase 2 compared with phase 1. Lower pain score in first postoperative day and shorter hospital stay were also observed in the phase 2. Although the reduction in transient hypoparathyroidism did not reach statistical significance, no permanent hypoparathyroidism was noted in the phase 2. Conclusions The learning curve for endoscopic thyroidectomy is approximately 30 cases. Aside from the operative time, drainage amount may also serve as a surrogate for the learning curve evaluation.

Background Transoral thyroidectomy via the vestibular approach retains no scars in the body surface and is a good option for patients indicated for thyroidectomy but with cosmetic concerns. However, the working space of this procedure is relatively small and is also difficult to create compared with that of other remote-access thyroidectomy procedures. Methods In this study, we first created a tract from the chin to the sternal notch, after which a Foley catheter with stylet was inserted through the middle oral incision. Sequential balloon insufflations were performed to dilate the entire subplatysmal tunnel. Results After Foley catheter dilatation, the subplatysmal space was larger, and subsequent trocar insertion became much easier. With the help of a balloon compressing the surrounding tissue, hemostasis was secured and a clearer tissue plane could be identified for subsequent sharp dissection. Conclusions Foley balloon dilatation is a simple, effective, and low-cost technique that overcomes the difficulty in creation of working space during the initial stage and can be applied to all transoral thyroidectomy procedures.

Transoral endoscopic thyroidectomy is widely utilized for treating benign conditions and low-risk thyroid cancers, yet its use for completion thyroidectomy, especially when performed more than 2 weeks after an initial lobectomy, is less understood. In this retrospective study, we assessed patients who underwent endoscopic completion thyroidectomy via the transoral route, examining operative data and complications from both the initial lobectomy and the subsequent completion thyroidectomy, along with the pathological and oncologic outcomes of the latter surgery. Among the ten patients diagnosed with papillary carcinoma following an initial lobectomy who underwent a completion thyroidectomy via the same transoral approach, the median interval between surgeries was 5.4 months, with 80% of cases exceeding 3 months. All procedures were completed endoscopically without necessitating an open conversion. In 40% of these patients, additional microcarcinomas were identified in the contralateral thyroid lobe. Although the median operative time for completion thyroidectomy was longer (249 min) compared to the initial lobectomy (220 min), and postoperative pain scores on days 1 and 2 were slightly higher, and these differences were not statistically significant. Blood loss, drainage amounts, and hospital stay lengths were similar between both surgeries. The only major complication was transient hypoparathyroidism, occurring in 20% of the completion group, with 80% of patients achieving suppressed thyroglobulin levels of < 0.2 ng/mL postoperatively. Our findings demonstrate the practicality of using the transoral endoscopic vestibular approach for completion thyroidectomy, even when conducted more than 3 months after the initial lobectomy.

Transoral thyroidectomy is a novel technique that uses three small incisions hidden in the oral vestibule to remove the thyroid gland. It provides excellent cosmetic results and outcomes comparable to the open approach. One of the main obstacles for this technique is the creation of a working space from the lip and chin to the neck. The anatomy of the perioral region and the top-down surgical view are both unfamiliar to general surgeons. As a result, inadequate manipulation might easily occur and would lead to several unconventional complications, such as mental nerve injury, carbon dioxide embolism, and skin perforation, which are rarely observed in open surgery. Herein, we summarize the basic concepts, techniques, and rationales behind working space creation in transoral thyroidectomy to assist surgeons in obtaining an adequate surgical field while eliminating preventable complications.

Purpose To evaluate the survival outcomes of huge HCC (tumor size ≥ 10 cm) after surgical resection (SR) with or without neoadjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC). Patients and methods 119 huge HCC patients underwent SR in our Hospital (2010–2020). A new HAIC regimen (cisplatin, leucovorin, mitomycin-C and 5-FU infusion for 5 days plus 10 ml lipiodol microvascular embolization) was adopted as the neoadjuvant therapy in 25 patients. Treatment responses were evaluated based on mRECIST criteria. The objective response rate (ORR), disease free survival (DFS), recurrence survival (RS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between the SR-only and neoadjuvant HAIC groups. Results Of the 119 patients, 65 patients were Vp2, 9 patients were Vp3 and 4 patients were Vp4. In the subgroup analysis, neoadjuvant HAIC group revealed significantly more severe clinical status. Of the neoadjuvant HAIC patients, ORR was 66.7%. Postoperative tumor recurrence was noted in 75% and 58.3% of the SR and neoadjuvant groups, of them 56.5% and 20.8% developed in ≤ 12 months. The median DFS, RS and OS in each group were 10 vs. 41 months ( p  = 0.016), 36 vs. 91 months and 46 vs. 96 months, respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed no significant survival difference of the RS in both patient groups with tumor recurrence ≤ 12 months (17 vs. 14 months) or > 12 months/without recurrence (not reached vs. 113 months). Conclusion Our new regimen HAIC acted as an effective neoadjuvant therapy in reducing early recurrence rate and prolonged DFS of huge HCC after surgical resection.

Background The incidence rate of newly developed gallstone disease after gastrectomy for gastric cancer is thought to be higher than that in the general population. However, the presentation and management of these gallstones remain under debate, and the role of prophylactic cholecystectomy remains questionable. Methods Data on adult patients who were diagnosed with gastric cancer and received gastrectomy between 2000 and 2011 were extracted from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. A patient was excluded if he or she had gallstone disease or received cholecystectomy before the index date. The incidence of newly developed gallstone disease and its subsequent management were recorded. Data were analyzed to evaluate the factors associated with gallstone development and treatment options. Results A total of 17,325 gastric cancer patients who underwent gastrectomy were eligible for analysis. During the follow-up period (mean 4.1 years; median, 2.9 years), 1280 (7.4%) patients developed gallstone disease and 560 (3.2%) patients subsequently underwent cholecystectomy. The in-hospital mortality for cholecystectomy was 1.8% (10/560). Development of gallstone disease was associated with older age, total gastrectomy, duodenal exclusion, diabetes, cirrhosis, and more comorbidities. Factors associated with the use of cholecystectomy to treat gallstone disease included younger age, fewer comorbidities, medical center admission, and presentation as cholecystitis. Conclusions Although few patients required further gallbladder removal after gastrectomy for gastric malignancy, the increased mortality rate for subsequent cholecystectomy was worth noting. The decision to undergo prophylactic cholecystectomy might be individualized based upon patient characteristics and the surgeon’s discretion.

Low-dose computed tomography screening for lung cancer is currently targeted at heavy smokers or those with a family history of lung cancer. This study aimed to identify risk factors for lung cancer in individuals who do not meet the current lung cancer screening criteria as stipulated by the Taiwan Health Promotion Agency’s low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening policy. A cohort analysis was conducted on 12,542 asymptomatic healthy subjects aged 20–80 years old who voluntarily underwent LDCT scans from January 2016 to December 2021. Logistic regression demonstrated that several factors, including age over 55 years, female gender, a body mass index (BMI) less than 23, a previous history of respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis or obstructive respiratory diseases (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD], asthma), and previous respiratory symptoms such as cough or dyspnea, were associated with high-risk lung radiology scores according to LDCT scans. These findings indicate that risk-based assessments using primary data and questionnaires to identify risk factors other than heavy smoking and a family history of lung cancer may improve the efficiency of lung cancer screening.

Background Adjuvant chemotherapy has changed the paradigm in resectable gastric cancer. S-1 is an oral chemotherapeutic with promising efficacy in Asia. However, comparisons with close observation or platinum-based doublets post D2 gastrectomy have been less reported, notably on real-world experiences. Methods We retrospectively evaluated patients with D2-dissected stage IB-III gastric cancer who received S-1 (S-1, n  = 67), platinum-based doublets (P, n  = 145) and surgery with close observation (OBS, n  = 221) from Jan 2008 to Oct 2018. A propensity score matching was used to compare for recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survivals (OS) in patients who had a locally-advanced disease (T3–4 or lymph node-positive). Adverse reactions, dosage, and associated factors for S-1 are also discussed. Results In a median follow-up time of 51.9 months, adjuvant S-1 monotherapy was associated with an intermediate survival as compared with P and OBS (median RFS/OS: S-1 vs. P, 20.9/35.8 vs. 31.2/50.5 months, HR = 1.76/2.14, p  = 0.021/0.008; S-1 vs. OBS, 24.4/40.2 vs. 20.7/27.0 months, HR = 0.62/0.55, p  = 0.041/0.024). The survival differences were more prominent in patients with N2–3 diseases. S-1 was well-tolerated with a relative dose intensity of 73.6%, a median duration of 8.3 months and associated with less adverse reactions as compared with P. S-1 monotherapy was selected by physicians based on age, lymph node stage, serum carcinoembryonic antigen and disease stage. Conclusions Adjuvant S-1 correlated with intermediate survival outcomes between OBS and P but conferred fewer adverse reactions as compared with P. Patients with a moderate risk of recurrence had comparable survivals when treated with S-1 while platinum-based doublets were favored in advanced cases. The study provides additional information about adjuvant S-1 in patients with selected risk of recurrence.