Woo-Yoon Jung
Yonsei University · Medicine
About the Lab
Professor Woo-Yoon Jung's research lab specializes in minimally invasive thyroid surgery, with a strong focus on robotic and endoscopic techniques for thyroidectomy. The lab investigates oncologic outcomes, quality of life (QoL), and surgical safety in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, particularly in the context of radioactive iodine ablation and various surgical approaches. Key research directions include optimizing surgical strategies—such as completion thyroidectomy and central neck dissection—while balancing long-term outcomes with patient-reported benefits like improved cosmesis and reduced postoperative morbidity. The lab also explores adjuvant therapies and ablation protocols, aiming to improve clinical decision-making in low-risk papillary microcarcinoma.
Research Overview
Research Output Trend
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
Selected Papers
15Kang, Sang-Wook MD; Jeong, Jong Ju MD; Nam, Kee-Hyun MD; Chang, Hang Seok MD; Chung, Woong Youn MD; Park, Cheong Soo MD, FACS Author Information
Our study indicates that use of rhTSH preserves QoL in patients undergoing RI ablation and affords an ablation success rate comparable to that seen after thyroid hormone withdrawal. Notably, ablation preparation using withdrawal of LT3 for 2 weeks did not prevent development of profound hypothyroidism, as also occurred when LT4 alone was withdrawn for 4 weeks.
Robotic TT with MRND yielded similar oncologic outcomes and safety as conventional open procedures, with similar recovery of neck and shoulder disability. However, the robot technique resulted in better QoL outcomes, including better cosmetic results and reductions in neck sensory changes and swallowing discomfort.
Ryu, Haeng Rang MD; Kang, Sang-Wook MD; Lee, So Hee MD; Rhee, Kang Young MD; Jeong, Jong Ju MD; Nam, Kee-Hyun MD; Chung, Woong Youn MD; Park, Chung Soo MD, FACS Author Information
The long-term rates of death and locoregional recurrence were similar in patients with PTMC who underwent LT with CCND and those who underwent TT with CCND. Therefore, completion thyroidectomy may not be recommended unless recurrence after LT is definitely detected in low-risk PTMC patients, and close follow-up is adequate in these patients. Moreover, tumor size greater than or less than 0.5 cm was not a significant determinant of the extent of surgery in patients with PTMC.
Robotic thyroidectomy is an emerging technique with postoperative outcomes that are at least comparable to those of conventional endoscopic thyroidectomy, with some end-points appearing superior. Our multicenter series represents the largest comparison of robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomy to date, with results suggesting a comparable robot technology we used that could overcome some of the technical limitations associated with conventional endoscopic procedures, with reduced operation times a
Research Areas
Dive deeper into Woo-Yoon Jung's research on Nubint
Open this lab's papers in the app to read with AI, summarize, and cite in your writing.