Robotic extended thymectomy for early-stage thymomas.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to report a single referral centre experience in robotic extended thymectomy for clinical early-stage thymomas, evaluating its safety, feasibility and efficacy, with special regard to oncological outcomes. METHODS Between April 2002 and February 2011, we retrospectively selected all those patients who underwent robotic thymectomy for clinical early-stage thymomas. Operative time, morbidity, mortality, duration of hospitalization and overall and disease-free survival were analysed. RESULTS There were 14 patients (8 males, 6 females) with a mean age of 65.2 years (range 23-81). One patient suffered from myasthenia gravis. The WHO classifications were: A in two cases, AB in four cases, B1 in three cases, B2 in two cases and B3 in three cases. The Masaoka stages were: I in seven cases, IIA in four cases, IIB in two cases and III in one case. The mean operative time was 139 min. No intra-operative complication or death occurred. Conversion to open surgery was required in two cases. Minor complications occurred in two patients (14.2%) due to pleural effusion. The mean hospitalization was 4.0 days. Five patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. All patients were alive with no disease recurrence, with a median follow-up of 14.5 months (range 1-98). CONCLUSIONS Robotic thymectomy is a safe and feasible technique, with a short operative time and low morbidity. Even on a small series with short follow-up, robotic extended thymectomy for thymoma appeared to be an effective treatment for early-stage thymomas.