Long-Term Outcomes of Robotic Thymectomy in Patients With Thymic Epithelial Tumors

Background. The long-term outcomes of robotic thymectomy for thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are not well known, even though the early postoperative outcomes have improved. This study aimed to report the long-term survival and recurrence in patients with TETs who underwent robotic thymectomies. Methods. A total of 158 patients who underwent robotic thymectomy for TET and who were followed-up for more than 1 year were included in the study. The median follow-up time was 43 (interquartile range, 40) months, and 156 (98%) patients were followed completely until the end of the study period. Results. The mean age of the patients was 55.7 +/- 12.7 years, and the mean size of the tumor was 4.6 +/- 2.1 cm. There was no postoperative mortality and postoperative complications occurred in 7 (4.4%) patients. The median length of the postoperative hospital stay was 2 (interquartile range, 1-20) days. Thymoma was the most common cell type (n = 132, 84%), and thymic carcinoma (n = 24, 15%) and neuroendocrine tumors (n = 2, 1%) were the next most common types. Advanced stages more than stage III were identified in 15 patients (stage IIIA: n = 7, 4%; stage IVA: n = 5, 3%; and stage IVB: n = 3, 2%). The 5-year disease-specific survival was 100% in thymoma and 95% in thymic carcinoma. The 5-year recurrence-free survival was 94% in thymoma and 79% in thymic carcinoma. Conclusions. Robotic thymectomy could achieve favorable long-term survival and recurrence rates, comparable to open or thoracoscopic thymectomy. (C) 2021 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Automated summary

The study of 158 patients who underwent robotic thymectomy for thymic epithelial tumors revealed favorable long-term survival and recurrence rates, comparable to open or thoracoscopic thymectomy, with no postoperative mortality and low postoperative complication rates.