ObjectiveTo compare postoperatively clinical effect of endoscopic total thyroidectomy via breast approach versus traditional total thyroidectomy via neck in treatment of thyroid papillary carcinoma on postoperative function of parathyroid gland. MethodsRetrospective study performed on 124 thyroid papillary carcinoma patients who were hospitalized between June 2014 and December 2015 in Department of General Surgery of The First Affiliated Hospital of General Hospital of PLA. All patients underwent total thyroidectomy plus central Ⅵ lymphadenectomy. Endoscopic total thyroidectomy via breast were applied on 48 patients and traditional total thyroidectomy via neck were applied on 76 patients. Serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) and calcium on postoperative day 1 were monitored for all patients. Then comparison of the serum iPTH and calcium between the 2 groups was performed. ResultsSerum iPTH and calcium for all 124 patients were within the normal range before surgery, and there was no significant difference between the endoscopic total thyroidectomy via breast group and traditional total thyroidectomy via neck group in the serum iPTH and calcium (P > 0.05). On 1 day after surgery, the level of iPTH in endoscopic total thyroidectomy via breast group was lower than that of traditional total thyroidectomy via neck group[(20.8±5.7) pg/mL vs. (28.3±4.9) pg/mL], and ratio of lower iPTH than normal of endoscopic total thyroidectomy via breast group was higher[43.8% (21/48) vs. 22.4% (17/76)], P < 0.05; but there was no significant difference in serum calcium between 2 groups[(2.1±0.3) mmol/L vs. (2.0±0.5) mmol/L], P > 0.05. In addition, the incidence of perioral, chiral and pedal numbness was higher in endoscopic total thyroidectomy via breast group than that of traditional total thyroidectomy via neck group[47.9% (23/48) vs. 27.6% (21/76)], P < 0.05. ConclusionsComparably, endoscopic total thyroidectomy via breast approach is more prone to lowly postoperative serum iPTH and calcium. Patients are more prone to exhibit clinical symptom such as perioral numbness, chiral and pedal numbness.