Minimal Access Thyroid Surgery in Children: A Retrospective Study and Literature Review

Minimal access thyroid surgery (MATS) is a technique whereby a part of or whole of a thyroid lobe is removed through a small (3–4 cm) neck incision. Its use in the surgical management of thyroid disease in children has not been well elucidated. We present a retrospective case study of 12 patients over the period of 2007 to 2010 to assess the feasibility of MATS in the management of thyroid disease. Minimal access thyroid surgery is a safe and feasible approach for hemithyroidectomy/lobectomy in selected patients. There were no associated adverse events, complications or disease recurrence. We also reviewed the literature and discussed the use of MATS as a routine procedure in selected pediatric patients.