ObjectiveTo discuss clinical significance of total endoscopic thyroidectomy (TET) via chest-breast approach. MethodsThe clinical data of 890 patients with thyroid diseases from September 2008 to September 2015 in this hospital were analyzed retrospectively. These patients were divided into TET group (received TET, n=420) and traditional group (received traditional thyroidectomy, n=470). The data of operation and postoperative recovery were compared between these two groups. ResultsThere was no significant difference between the TET group and the traditional group in the operation time [(73.571 4±28.533 9) min versus (70.212 8±27.199 8) min, t=1.80, P=0.072 7], bleeding volume [(30.714 3±14.225 1) mL versus (29.106 4±13.559 1) mL, t=1.73, P=0.084 8], postoperative drainage [(60.000 0±27.287 9) mL versus (56.595 7±27.803 5) mL, t=1.84, P=0.066 2], postoperative hospitalization time [(5.333 3±1.085 1) d versus (5.446 8± 1.089 0) d, t=1.55, P=0.120 4], postoperative 24 h pain score [(5.333 3±2.308 7) points versus (5.404 3±2.182 1) points, t=0.47, P=0.637 8] and postoperative injury rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve [0.714 2% (3/420) versus 0.851 1% (4/470), x2=0.053 2, P=0.817 6] and hypoparathyroidism rate [0.476 2% (2/420) versus 0.851 1% (4/470), x2=0.465 5, P=0.495 1]. The score of aesthetic effect of incision on day 7 after operation in the TET group was significantly higher than that in the traditional group [(7.809 5±1.296 9) points versus (3.361 7±1.391 8) points, t=49.14, P < 0.000 1]. ConclusionTET is safe and effective, and could improve cosmetic effect for patients with thyroid diseases.