Course Overview
What to expect from two days at the International Thyroid NOTES Conference.
Overview
The International Thyroid NOTES Conference delivers an up-to-date, state-of-the-art scientific program on transoral thyroid surgery — combining expert lectures, 4K live surgery, video pearls and round-table discussion with intensive soft-cadaver hands-on training.
Format
The 2026 edition is a focused two-day congress. Day 1, at Police General Hospital, pairs the scientific lectures with live-streamed TOETVA and transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) and an ultrasound-guided microwave ablation workshop. Day 2, at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, moves to advanced lectures and the soft-cadaver dissection laboratory.
What you will learn
- Current evidence and patient selection for transoral thyroidectomy
- Step-by-step TOETVA technique, nerve preservation and IONM
- Transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT) technique and outcomes
- Ultrasound-guided thermal (microwave) ablation of thyroid nodules
- Managing complications, redo surgery and post-operative care
- How to build a successful TOETVA program at your own centre
Hands-on training
High-fidelity soft cadavers preserved to near-human realism (approximately 99% tissue fidelity) allow participants to practise TOETVA independently under faculty guidance. A separate ultrasound-guided microwave ablation workshop runs on models and cadavers.
Capacity & stations (2026)
- Lecture program: open to a large audience of physicians (previous editions have hosted 150–200 lecture participants per day).
- Soft-cadaver TOETVA workshop: 16 hands-on stations — limited seating, registered hands-on participants only.
- Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation workshop: 6 hands-on stations on models and cadavers — limited seating.
- Hands-on places are allocated on a first-come basis; a lecture-only option is also available.
The soft-cadaver program has grown steadily across the series — from 12 stations (2017) to 15 (2018), 18 (2019) and 16 in the most recent editions — reflecting sustained international demand.