Abstract:Objective To explore the clinical effects and safety of endoscopic thyroidectomy through oral vestibule and areola approaches in treatment of patients with thyroid nodules.Methods 69 patients with thyroid nodules were enrolled in this study. Among them, 33 patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy through areola approach between February 2017 and June 2020 were included in the areola approach group, and 36 patients who underwent endoscopic thyroidectomy through oral vestibule approach were included in the transoral group. The surgical indexes [operation time, intraoperative blood loss, scores of visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after surgery, postoperative hospitalization time, postoperative drainage volume] were compared between the two groups. The changes of voice and swallowing function in both groups before and after surgery were assessed by voice handicap index (VHI) and swallowing impairment score (SIS). The psychological status in both groups before and after surgery was evaluated by symptom checking list-90 (SCL-90). The quality of life in both groups was evaluated by European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30). The incidence of complications was compared between the two groups.Results The operation time of the transoral group was significantly longer than that of the areola approach group. The intraoperative blood loss, postoperative drainage volume and scar length were significantly less or smaller than those of the areola approach group (P < 0.05). After surgery, VAS scores of the two groups were significantly increased (P < 0.05), and the scores of the transoral group were significantly lower than those of the areola approach group (P < 0.05). After surgery, VHI and SIS scores of the two groups were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), without significant differences between the two groups (P > 0.05). After surgery, SCL-90 scores of the two groups were significantly decreased, and the scores of the transoral group were significantly lower than those of the areola approach group. The EORTC QLQ-C30 scores of the two groups were significantly increased, and the scores of the transoral group were significantly higher than those of the areola approach group (P < 0.05). The incidence of complications in the transoral group was slightly lower than that in the areola approach group. In the two groups, the incidence of complications in patients undergoing bilateral resection was slightly lower than that in patients undergoing unilateral resection (P > 0.05).Conclusion Compared with the areola approach, there was less tissue damage, milder postoperative pain and no scars in patients with thyroid nodules treated with endoscopic thyroidectomy through oral vestibule approach, which is more conducive to maintaining postoperative health psychology status and good quality of life, with higher surgical safety.