Right VATS Thymomectomy for Large Type AB Thymoma

Radical thymectomy is the traditional surgical management of thymomas. With the advancement of technology, thymomectomy via a minimally invasive approach is gaining popularity, although evidence supporting comparable oncological outcomes remains limited. However, studies have shown a nonsignificant difference between five and ten year survival rates for those undergoing radical thymectomy or thymomectomy. 

This video demonstrates a minimally invasive thymomectomy for a large Type AB thymoma using a right VATS approach in a fifty-six-year old woman. The patient had no evidence of myasthenia gravis and had a past medical history of previous breast cancer, previous bowel perforation, and a previous DVT. A subxiphoid approach was used, which allowed the large tumor to be removed without the need for rib spreading.

Reference

Voulaz E, Veronesi G, Infante M, Cariboni U, Testori A, Novellis P, Bottoni E, Passera E, Morenghi E, Alloisio M. Radical thymectomy versus conservative thymomectomy in the surgical treatment of thymic malignancies. J Thorac Dis. 2018 Jul;10(7):4127-4136. doi: 10.21037/jtd.2018.06.04. PMID: 30174857; PMCID: PMC6105999.