Abstract: Objective To explore the effectiveness and safety of lateral cervical approach for radical thyroidectomy in clinical application, evaluate its clinical value in thyroid cancer radical surgery, and provide a scientific basis for clinical decision making. Methods A total of 160 patients who underwent unilateral thyroid cancer radical surgery from January 2023 to December 2023 were selected and randomly divided into two groups. The control group included 80 patients who underwent traditional anterior cervical median approach surgery, and the study group included 80 patients who underwent lateral cervical approach surgery. Treatment efficacy and safety were compared between the two groups. Results The study group had significantly longer surgical time, less intraoperative blood loss, shorter postoperative extubation time, better thyroid function, higher satisfaction with incision aesthetics, and lower postoperative complications compared to the control group （P<0.05）. Conclusion Lateral cervical approach radical thyroidectomy is a safe and effective surgical method, which is of great significance for the treatment of thyroid cancer. It features small surgical trauma and low incidence of postoperative complications, improves thyroid function while ensuring the effect of tumor treatment, and also takes into account the aesthetic needs of patients.

Key words: Lateral cervical approach, Radical thyroidectomy, Clinical application