A national analysis of open versus minimally invasive thymectomy for stage I to III thymoma

A year in general thoracic surgery published in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: 2020

“…In a national analysis, Yang and colleagues 36 demonstrated shorter length of stay following minimally invasive thymectomy for stage I through III thymoma, compared with open thymectomy, without increased rates of margin positivity, perioperative morbidity, or decreases in overall survival. Kim and colleagues 37 performed a useful systematic analysis of the paraneoplastic syndromes associated with thymoma and showed that a multimodal treatment approach that includes resection is able to achieve remission of the paraneoplastic syndrome in the majority (76%) of patients, which is associated with improved overall survival.…”

Commentary: Locally advanced thymoma resection: See 100, do 1, teach 1

“…Yang and colleagues 4 conducted a database evaluation of >1200 patients treated surgically for stage I through III thymomas, including approximately 25% using MIS approaches. Once again, long-term results showed no significant difference in oncologic outcomes.…”

Commentary: Minimally invasive versus open thymectomy for stage I to III thymoma—Big incision, small difference?

“…On the basis of our experience and that of others, enhanced recovery after surgery practices can allow patients undergoing either open or MIS thymectomy to go home on postoperative day 1 to 2. Yang and colleagues 2 have appropriately highlighted the possibility that this ''improvement'' in length of stay may actually represent the c-intervention of enhanced recovery after surgery practices. 9 In this light, this study supports the notion that either approach may be used, after first having considered the characteristics of the tumor, the surgeon experience, and the choice of the appropriately informed patient.…”