VCU Medical Center First in Virginia to Offer New Robotic-Assisted Thyroid Surgery

By Malorie Burkett

A Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center physician is the first in the state to perform a new minimally invasive da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical procedure to treat thyroid nodules without leaving a scar on the patient’s neck.

Amelia Grover, M.D., assistant professor in the Department of Surgery’s Division of Surgical Oncology, performs the surgery on patients with thyroid nodules – lumps that commonly arise within an otherwise-normal thyroid gland. Symptoms may include swallowing or breathing problems.

According to Grover, thyroid nodules are more common in women and affect about 20 percent of the adult population. Only about 5 percent are determined to be cancerous.

“If someone is apprehensive about having a scar on their neck, this is a big advantage to them,” said Grover. “The robotic procedure takes the scar off the neck and puts it in a hidden place. It gives patients an alternative to keep it personal and private and is a reasonable and safe approach.”

During a traditional thyroidectomy, removing all or part of the thyroid gland usually involves a noticeable incision across the base of the neck, but with the use of the da Vinci robot, surgeons can remove the thyroid gland by making one small incision under the patient's arm, eliminating the need for an incision on the neck.

Grover says the da Vinci procedure magnifies what a surgeon can see in a patient and helps with the visualization of the surrounding structures. The robot itself is controlled completely by the surgeon, whose actions are translated by the robot in very accurate movements.

The patient typically can return home after a one-night hospital stay and return to normal activities within one or two weeks.

“Our goal is to provide comprehensive care for all of our patients and to offer them every option so that we can do what is right for them,” said Grover. “We are working to determine if there are other ways this procedure can improve patient care and whether it can be used to treat other conditions.”

In 2007, Grover was named a scholar in a National Institutes of Health program that provides mentorship and training support to young scientists researching women’s health.

VCU was one of 15 programs nationwide to receive Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health, BIRCWH, funding. It is designed to promote the career development of independent researchers working on women's health issues by pairing scholars with senior investigators in a mentored, interdisciplinary scientific environment.