Table 2.

Indications, advantages, and disadvantages of surgical techniques for thyroid surgery

Surgical techniques	Indications	Advantages	Disadvantages
Open thyroidectomy	Any indication for thyroidectomy, lymph node dissection Extrathyroid invasion History of thyroiditis	Standardized method Easy learning curve Reduced operating time	Poor cosmetic result Hyper- or paresthesia in the neck
Minimally invasive methods	≤30 mL of thyroid volume <30 mm diameter of nodule <20 mm diameter of cancer Level IV node dissection	Better cosmetic result Less postoperative pain	Difficult learning curve Limits in nodules size
Breast and axillary-breast approaches	<6 cm diameter of thyroid <1 cm diameter of cancer No central or lateral lymph nodes	Scarless technique	Greater postoperative pain Difficult learning curve Longer operating time Complications from CO2 insufflation Higher cost
Robot-assisted thyroidectomy	<6 cm diameter of thyroid <2 cm diameter of cancer No central or lateral lymph nodes No previous neck operations	Better cosmetic result Three-dimensional working field Magnified view Eliminate tremor	Highest cost Greater postoperative pain Longer operating time Very difficult learning curve