Robots vs. Cameras: A New Way to Remove Thyroids in Japan

In Japan, doctors are trying out a new way to remove thyroids. They are using robots! This method is called transaxillary robotic thyroidectomy, or TART for short. It's not the only new way to do this. There's also a method using cameras called video-assisted neck surgery, or VANS. Doctors wanted to see if TART is safe and works well. So, they compared the first few times they used TART with the first few times they used VANS. They looked at how safe each method was and how well it worked. But why use robots or cameras? Well, both methods are less invasive than the old way. That means they cause less damage to the body. This can lead to less pain and faster healing. But, new methods can also have risks. So, it's important to study them. The study found that both TART and VANS are safe. But, TART might have some advantages. For example, the robot can move in ways that a human hand can't. This could make the surgery more precise. But, TART also has some drawbacks. It's more expensive and takes longer to set up. So, is TART the future of thyroid surgery? Maybe. But, more research is needed. For now, it's just one option among many.