Advantages of laparoscopic surgery for thyroid disorders. Many thyroid disorders require surgery, but because the traditional surgical incision is in the neck, it can leave a rather obvious scar that many patients (especially female patients or those with scarring) are concerned about, and even delay treatment because of it. The biggest advantage of laparoscopic surgery for thyroid disease (also known as endoscopic surgery, endoscopic treatment, and minimally invasive surgery, all meaning the same thing) is that it treats the disease while maintaining the aesthetic appearance of the neck. Because it requires only about 3 very small incisions and is located relatively down in the anterior chest, it is almost invisible over time. Some of the thyroid disorders that can be treated with laparoscopic surgery are thyroid adenoma, nodular goiter, hyperthyroidism, and thyroid malignancy, among others.