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Background: Robotic thyroidectomy is increasingly used for patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). We compared the differences between robotic and endoscopic transaxillary thyroidectomy with regard to surgical procedures., Methods: This retrospective study enrolled 40 patients with PTC who underwent robotic hemithyroidectomy (robot group) using the Da Vinci S system and 37 patients (endoscopic group) who underwent endoscopic hemithyroidectomy. Video files of surgery for all patients were analyzed to compare the operation procedures: (flap creation, docking [only for robot group], dissection of the superior pole, dissection of the inferior pole, identification of parathyroid glands [PTGs] and the recurrent laryngeal nerve [RLN], dissection of the thyroid along the trachea, bleeding control, application of a drain, and wound closure). The duration of each procedure and the clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed., Results: Procedure time for patients in the robot group was shorter for inferior pole dissection and for identification of the PTGs and RLN (37.5 min vs. 50.5 min, p = 0.008). Mean total operative times for the two groups were comparable (153.0 min vs. 150.2 min, p = 0.732); however, excluding the docking procedure, operation time was shorter for the robot group (133.3 min vs. 150.2 min, p = 0.038). The number of sacrificed PTGs was also significantly smaller in the robot group (0.35 ± 0.53 vs. 0.65 ± 0.68, p = 0.036)., Conclusion: Compared to endoscopic thyroidectomy, robotic transaxillary thyroidectomy involved a shorter time for inferior pole dissection and PTGs and RLN identification; moreover, more PTGs were spared using this procedure., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC.)

Axillary masses may represent various soft tissue tumors or lymphadenopathy. Neurofibromas are benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors and, while they are very uncommon, it is important to remember that neurogenic tumors arising from brachial plexus can develop in the axilla. We describe an axillary neurofibroma arising from the brachial plexus that presented with a "coffee bean sign" on sonography that distinguished it from axillary lymphadenopathy., (Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Skin reaction is major problem during whole breast radiotherapy. To identify factors related to skin reactions during whole breast radiotherapy, various personal, clinical, and radiation dosimetric parameters were evaluated. From January 2012 to December 2013, a total of 125 patients who underwent breast conserving surgery and adjuvant whole breast irradiation were retrospectively reviewed. All patients had both whole breast irradiation and boost to the tumour bed. Skin reaction was measured on the first day of boost therapy based on photography of the radiation field and medical records. For each area of axilla and inferior fold, the intensity score of erythema (score 1 to 5) and extent (score 0 to 1) were summed. The relationship of various parameters to skin reaction was evaluated using chi-square and linear regression tests. The V100 (volume receiving 100% of prescribed radiation dose, p<0.001, both axilla and inferior fold) and age (p=0.039 for axilla and 0.026 for inferior fold) were significant parameters in multivariate analyses. The calculated axilla dose (p=0.003) and breast separation (p=0.036) were also risk factors for axilla and inferior fold, respectively. Young age and large V100 are significant factors for acute skin reaction that can be simply and cost-effectively measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]