Since its introduction, the daVinci Surgical System has rapidly become widely accepted for the performance of radical prostatectomies in the United States. As of June 2009, it is estimated that 80% of all radical prostatectomies performed in the United States used the robotic system. The system has also been widely adopted for use in gynaecologic surgery and by general surgeons for abdominal procedures. Within the field of otolaryngology – head and neck surgery, there are several centres that have been investigating its use for the transoral resection of pharyngeal and laryngeal masses. Over the years, there has been discussion about applying robotic surgery technology to thyroid and parathyroid surgery. It is easy to understand the potential benefits of using this technology as it provides excellent visualisation, the instrumentation allows enhanced dexterity and precision as most have seven degrees of freedom, the system filters tremors, and allows the surgeon to control three instruments and the camera from the console. While there are clear benefits to robotic technology, concerns include disposable and fixed costs of the system, mastering the learning curve, creating adequate access to the surgical field, and the lack of tactile feedback.