follow-up. Durations of chest intubation and hospitalization were significantly shorter in Group T than in Group S. No significant between-group difference in the incidence of operative complications was observed. Tumour recurrence-free rates at 5 and 7 years postsurgery were 96% (both years) in Group T and 95% (both years) in Group S. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term follow-up indicates that thoracoscopic thymectomy for thymoma without myasthenia gravis is effective and is well tolerated, and associated with low rates of operative complications and recurrence.

Swollen joint count 9.9 (6.8) 5.8 (7.5)* 2.3 (4.6)* PASI (psoriasis activity skin index) 12.1 (10.3) 1.7 (5.6)* 1.1 (2.7)* ESR (mm/1st h) 21.6 (15.5) 15.9 (9.4) 20.2 (20.4) CRP (mg/l) 0.9 (0.9) 0.7 (1.3) 0.2 (0.4)* *p<0.01 as compared with baseline (determined by t test for paired data).

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