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Cho Rok Lee

Yonsei University · Medicine

About the Lab

Professor Cho Rok Lee's research lab specializes in thyroid cancer research, with a primary focus on papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and familial PTMC (FPTMC), investigating their biological behavior, prognostic factors, and optimal surgical management. The lab explores critical clinical variables such as lymph node ratio (LNR), central lymph node metastasis, and recurrence prediction to guide personalized treatment strategies. Additionally, the lab contributes to surgical innovation through the development and evaluation of robotic surgical simulators to enhance training and improve surgical outcomes. Their work bridges clinical oncology, surgical technique, and patient prognosis, particularly in low-risk and familial thyroid cancer subtypes.

thyroid cancerpapillary thyroid microcarcinomalymph node ratiosurgical simulationfamilial thyroid cancer

Research Overview

Papers
120
Total Citations
2,279
Papers (5y)
33
Primary Field
Medicine

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
33total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
249total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|113 citations·2012
Robotic and endoscopic transaxillary thyroidectomies may be cost prohibitive when compared to standard cervical thyroidectomy: A cost analysis
Jennifer C. Cabot, Cho Rok Lee, Laurent Brunaud, David A. Kleiman, Woong Youn Chung, Thomas J. Fahey, Rasa Zarnegar
SJR Q1Surgery
SurgeryMedicine
2
Article|112 citations·2014
Surgical complications after robotic thyroidectomy for thyroid carcinoma: a single center experience with 3,000 patients
Eun Jeong Ban, Ji Young Yoo, Won Woong Kim, Hae Young Son, Seulkee Park, So Hee Lee, Cho Rok Lee, Sang‐Wook Kang, Jong Ju Jeong, Kee‐Hyun Nam, Woong Youn Chung, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q1Surgical EndoscopyOA
SurgeryMedicine
3
Article|102 citations·2012
A Comparative Study of the Transperitoneal and Posterior Retroperitoneal Approaches for Laparoscopic Adrenalectomy for Adrenal Tumors
Cho Rok Lee, Martin K. Walz, Seulkee Park, Jae Hyun Park, Jun Soo Jeong, So Hee Lee, Sang‐Wook Kang, Jong Ju Jeong, Kee‐Hyun Nam, Woong Youn Chung, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q1Annals of Surgical OncologyOA
SurgeryMedicine
4
Article|89 citations·2012
A comparative study of the surgical outcomes of robotic and conventional open modified radical neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma with lateral neck node metastasis
Sang‐Wook Kang, So Hee Lee, Jae Hyun Park, Jun Soo Jeong, Seulkee Park, Cho Rok Lee, Jong Ju Jeong, Kee‐Hyun Nam, Woong Youn Chung, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q1Surgical Endoscopy
SurgeryMedicine
5
Article|80 citations·2010
Intraoperative portable abdominal radiograph for tumor localization: a simple and accurate method for laparoscopic gastrectomy
Hyoung‐Il Kim, Woo Jin Hyung, Cho Rok Lee, Joon Seok Lim, Ji Yeong An, Jae‐Ho Cheong, Seung Ho Choi, Sung Hoon Noh
SJR Q1Surgical EndoscopyOA
Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
6
Article|57 citations·2012
A Comparative Analysis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Hepatic Resection in Young versus Elderly Patients
Cho Rok Lee, Jin Hong Lim, Sung Hoon Kim, Sang Hoon Ahn, Young Nyun Park, Gi Hong Choi, Jin Sub Choi, Kyung Sik Kim
SJR Q1Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery
HepatologyMedicine
7
Article|45 citations·2024
Chitosan-gallic acid conjugate edible coating film for perishable fruits
Cho Rok Lee, Su Jin Lee, Tae In Kim, Kiramage Chathuranga, Jong Soo Lee, Sangsik Kim, Min Hee Kim, Won Ho Park
SJR Q1Food Chemistry
BiomaterialsMaterials Science
8
Article|35 citations·2016
Optimal Cut-Off Values of Lymph Node Ratio Predicting Recurrence in Papillary Thyroid Cancer
Seul Gi Lee, Joon Ho, Jung Bum Choi, Tae Hyung Kim, Min Jhi Kim, Eun Jeong Ban, Cho Rok Lee, Sang‐Wook Kang, Jong Ju Jeong, Kee‐Hyun Nam, Sang Geun Jung, Young Suk Jo
SJR Q3MedicineOA

Regional lymph node (LN) metastasis has a significant impact for prediction of recurrence in patients with papillary thyroid cancers (PTC); however, the prognostic value of the lymph node ratio (LNR), which is defined as the ratio of the number of metastatic LNs to the total number of investigated LNs, is controversial. In this study, we determined the optimal cut-off values of LNRs for the prediction of recurrence in PTC patients.This large cohort study retrospectively evaluated 2294 patients w

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
9
Article|31 citations·2019
The Prognosis of Papillary Thyroid Cancer with Initial Distant Metastasis is Strongly Associated with Extensive Extrathyroidal Extension: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Young Ki Lee, Daham Kim, Dong Yeob Shin, Cho Rok Lee, Eun Jig Lee, Sang‐Wook Kang, Jandee Lee, Jong Ju Jeong, Kee‐Hyun Nam, Woong Youn Chung, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q1Annals of Surgical OncologyOA
Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
10
Article|24 citations·2013
Lobectomy and Prophylactic Central Neck Dissection for Papillary Thyroid Microcarcinoma: Do Involved Lymph Nodes Mandate Completion Thyroidectomy?
Cho Rok Lee, Haiyoung Son, Sohee Lee, Sang‐Wook Kang, Jong Ju Jeong, Kee‐Hyun Nam, Woong Youn Chung, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q1World Journal of SurgeryOA

BACKGROUND: The present study was designed to investigate the necessity of completion thyroidectomy for patients who underwent thyroid lobectomy for low-risk papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) that was later pathologically diagnosed as central lymph node (CLN) metastasis. METHODS: Between 1986 and 2001, we assessed 551 patients who underwent thyroidectomy with prophylactic ipsilateral central compartment neck dissection, and 409 patients were followed-up completely. Thyroid lobectomy were p

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
11
Article|21 citations·2016
Medullary thyroid carcinoma: a 30-year experience at one institution in Korea
Cho Rok Lee, Sohee Lee, Haiyoung Son, Eunjeong Ban, Sang‐Wook Kang, Jandee Lee, Jong Ju Jeong, Kee‐Hyun Nam, Woong Youn Chung, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q2Annals of Surgical Treatment and ResearchOA

In general, patients with MTC have favorable outcomes. Distant metastasis appears to be the strongest predictor of overall and progression-free survival.

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
12
Article|15 citations·2017
Is familial papillary thyroid microcarcinoma more aggressive than sporadic form?
Cho Rok Lee, Seulkee Park, Sang‐Wook Kang, Jandee Lee, Jong Ju Jeong, Kee‐Hyun Nam, Woong Youn Chung, Cheong Soo Park
SJR Q2Annals of Surgical Treatment and ResearchOA

These findings suggest that close follow-up can be beneficial in FPTMC patients to detect local recurrence.

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine
13
Article|7 citations·2019
Comparison of Training Efficacy Between Custom‐Made Skills Simulator (CMSS) and da Vinci Skills Simulators: A Randomized Control Study
Cho Rok Lee, Seoung Yoon Rho, Sang Hyup Han, Young Moon, Sun Young Hwang, Young Joo Kim, Chang Moo Kang
SJR Q1World Journal of SurgeryOA

BACKGROUND: skills simulator (DVSS) that help improving surgical skills for effective and safe robotic surgical interventions. METHODS: A randomized control study was conducted to determine the performance of participants after undergoing robotic surgical training. Total 64 students who had no previous experience with robotic surgery enrolled this study. After 5 min-introduction of robotic surgical system, the participants got random-assignment into two groups to perform either CMSS-or DVSS-exer

SurgeryMedicine
14
Article|7 citations·2017
Is familial papillary thyroid microcarcinoma more aggressive than sporadic form?
이초록, 박슬기, 강상욱, 이잔디, 정종주, 남기현, 정웅윤, 박정수

Purpose: With the increasing incidence of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC), familial papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (FPTMC) is now recognized more frequently. However, the biological behavior of FPTMC is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of FPTMC and its biological aggressiveness. Methods: Between March 2006 and July 2010, 2,414 patients underwent primary surgical therapy for PTMC and 149 (6.2%) were further classified as FPTMC. To determine the

15
Article|4 citations·2025
Familial Non-Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma: Distinct Clinicopathological Features and Prognostic Implications in a Large Cohort of 46,572 Patients
Cho Rok Lee, Jin Kyong Kim, Joon Ho, Sang‐Wook Kang, Jandee Lee, Jong Ju Jeong, Ki Heon Nam, Woong Youn Chung
SJR Q1CancersOA

Background: The incidence of thyroid cancer has rapidly increased worldwide, and familial aggregation of the disease has been increasingly recognized. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, clinicopathological characteristics, and long-term outcomes of familial non-medullary thyroid cancer (FNMTC) in a large institutional cohort. Methods: Patients with non-medullary thyroid cancer (NMTC) who had undergone surgery were classified as sporadic NMTC (SNMTC) or FNMTC based on family history. Cl

Endocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismMedicine

Research Areas

SurgeryEndocrinology, Diabetes and MetabolismNephrologyPulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMolecular BiologyHepatology

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