Abstract:Abstract: 【Objective】 To compare the clinical efficacy of video-assisted thyroidectomy and intraoperative conversion to open thyroidectomy in patients with papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC). 【Methods】 Between April 2009 and June 2012, 52 patients, who underwent video-assisted thyroidectomy in our hospital for papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, were included in this study.In the patients, video-assisted thyroidectomy was completed in 32 cases(endoscopy group). And the other 20 were converted to open surgery during the endoscopy (conversion group). Both the groups received lobotomy plus central compartment dissection and contralateral subtotal (total) lobotomy. 【Results】 No significant difference was detected in the postoperative drainage volume, intraoperative blood loss, number of resected lymph nodes, and postoperative hospital stay.Cosmetic result of wound evaluated by numeric scale was in favor of group endoscopy(t =30.243, P =0.000). The endoscopy group showed significantly of operation time longer than the conversion group (108.0±19.7) vs (89.7±11.6) min, P =0.014. In the endoscopy group, 2 patients showed hypocalcemia, while in the conversion group, 1 patient developed hypocalcemia, all of them wererelieved before being discharged.In the endoscopy group 3 patients developed transient recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, and were cured spontaneously in 4-6 weeks. There was no metastasis or recurrence in the both groups during follow-up[(21±8.6) months VS (24.8±10.1) months]. 【Conclusion】 Video-assisted thyroidectomy is safe and effective,the former gives better cosmetic outcomes. It is a choice of the surgical treatment for selected case of PTMC.