ObjectiveToevaluatethefeasibilityandresultsof transorallaparoscopic thyroidectomy. MethodThyroidectomy was attempted in 5 cases,including 4 females and 1 male with the average age of 42 years( range 35 -60 years).All patients was diagnosed as single nodule of the thyroid gland confirmed by B-mode ultrasound examination before the operation.The average diameter of nodule was 2.5 cm (range 2 - 3.4 cm). ResultTransoral laparoscopic thyroidectomy was perfoormed successfully in all 5 patients.The operation time was 120 - 210 min,averaging 170 min,blood loss during the operation was 15-60 ml,the postoperative hospitalization was 4 days. There was no conversion to open surgery,no recurrent laryngeal nerve injury,nor parathyroid glands dysfunction. ConclusionsTransoral laparoscopic thyroidectomy is feasible and safe,giving excellent cosmetic results.

To investigate physicians' knowledge about chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in tertiary hospitals in northeast China.Physicians from 77 tertiary hospitals in northeast China were surveyed with a questionnaire,which included questions such as risk factors,symptoms,exacerbations,comorbidities and diagnostic criteria of COPD.Besides cigarette smoking,air pollution and pulmonary infections,only 22.5％ (40/178) physicians recognized that the biomass fuels may induce COPD.Totally 59.0％ (105/178) physicians recognized the importance of spirometry to the diagnosis of COPD.Besides dyspnea,cough,sputum production,wheezing and chest tightness,only 23.7％ (42/177)of physicians considered that limitation of activity was an important symptom of COPD.65.5％ (116/177)physicians believed that recurrent lung infections was one of the most important comorbidities of COPD.However,less than 30％ [20.9％ (37/177)-28.8％ (51/177)] physicians were aware of the other important comorbidities.The physicians of tertiary hospitals in northeast China need to be systematically educated on COPD to meet the new guideline.