Minimally invasive thymectomy for patients with thymoma: surgical, oncological and neurological outcomes

Traditionally, sternotomy has been the gold standard approach for the treatment of thymomas. However, interest in minimally invasive techniques such as video-assisted and robot-assisted thymectomy is gaining momentum. Concerns have been raised over the possibility of en-bloc resection using minimal access techniques due to limited working space and increased tumour manipulation leading to tumour breach and recurrence.

An observational cohort study was conducted at a tertiary referral centre from 1 April 2012 to 31 December 2020 and followed up until 31 March 2023. Consecutive patients of thymoma were evaluated for demography, symptoms and imaging preoperatively and included for the study. Post minimally invasive thymectomy, surgical, neurological and oncological outcomes were evaluated through out-patient and telephonic follow-up.

Fifty-two patients underwent minimally invasive thymectomy. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery for thymectomy was used in 49 patients (94.2%) with 3 (5.8%) patients undergoing robot-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Median tumour size was 4 cm (interquartile range (IQR) 3–5) with a median operative duration of 150 min (IQR 120–180), blood loss of 135 ml (IQR 42.5–250), post-operative stay of 3 days (IQR 2–4) and no 30-day surgery related morbidity and mortality. Annual contrast-enhanced computed tomography imaging, available in 46 (88.5%) patients, showed no recurrence at a median follow-up of 43 (IQR, 21–75) months. No symptoms suggesting recurrence was noted at a median clinical follow-up of 57 (IQR 44–95.5) months and 88.5% patients were expected to survive a period of 10 years.

Minimally invasive thymectomy is technically feasible with minimal morbidity and acceptable intermediate-term oncological outcomes in patients suffering with thymoma.

Institute ethical committee approval: Ref no. IECPG-551/14.11.2018.

Clinical Trial Registry of India: Ref no. CTRI/2019/04/018784.