Long-term outcomes of thoracoscopic thymectomy for thymoma stage i-ii

Objective: To compare long-term outcomes of video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) and conventional open surgery in patients with early-stage (Masaoka stage I-II) thymic malignancies. Retrospective study included patients after VATS and open thymectomy for the period 2000-2019. Long-term outcomes were analyzed.

Results: VATS thymectomy was performed in 53 (54.1%) patients, open thymectomy - in 45 (45.9%) cases. Median follow-up period was 66.9 months. Overall 5-year survival was 89.8% and 97% in the Open and VATS groups, respectively (p=0.076). Disease-free survival rates were 79.6% and 86.6% (p=0.279), respectively. There was no significant difference in cumulative incidence of recurrence (13.3% vs 7.5%, p=0.505). Age <50 years and tumor size >5 cm were the independent risk factors of recurrence.

Conclusions: VATS thymectomy is an effective approach ensuring similar long-term outcomes in patients with early stages of thymic malignancies.