Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
Complete Thymectomy in Adult Rats with Non-invasive Endotracheal Intubation
Published on: December 29, 2014
Thoracoscopic thymectomy in children: our preliminary experience
Francesco Molinaro1, Alfredo Garzi, Elisa Cerchia
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Medical Sciences, Surgery, and Neuroscience, University of Siena, Siena, Italy.
Insights
This study shows video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy is a safe and effective minimally invasive option for pediatric thymoma. Early thymectomy in children can be achieved with this approach.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
- Surgical Oncology
Background:
- Anterior mediastinal masses in children can be thymomas.
- Surgical resection is the primary treatment for thymoma.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a preliminary series of pediatric thymoma cases treated with video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy.
- To evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of this minimally invasive approach in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of six children with anterior mediastinal thymoma from 2000-2012.
- All patients underwent video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy.
- Data collected included clinical presentation, surgical details, and follow-up.
Main Results:
- Six children (5 male, 1 female) underwent thoracoscopic thymectomy.
- Mean operative time was 120 minutes; mean hospital stay was 5 days.
- No malignancies were found on histology; mean follow-up was 38 months.
Conclusions:
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy is a viable, less invasive alternative for pediatric thymoma.
- The right-sided approach offers better venous anatomy visualization.
- Early thymectomy is facilitated by this minimally invasive technique.
Introduction:
The aim of this study is to present a preliminary series of six children affected by an anterior mediastinal mass, resulting in a thymoma. We treated this pediatric population by a video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy.
Patients And Methods:
We performed a retrospective study from January 2000 to January 2012 of all children affected by an anterior mediastinal mass, resulting in a thymoma. Data included sex, age at surgery, clinical and radiological features, surgical procedure, follow-up, and complications.
Results:
Video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy was performed in six children (five boys and one girl). Four patients presented with dyspnea and/or thoracic pain treated with analgesic and corticosteroid therapy without any benefits. Two patients were asymptomatic. Preoperatively, exams included radiological imaging, blood, and immunological test. All 6 patients were treated with a thoracoscopic approach; of these patients, 5 were treated with a thoracoscopic right-side thymectomy and 1 with a left-side approach. Patients were treated by a three-trocar technique, and thymectomy was performed using Valleylab (now Covidien) (Boulder, CO) LigaSure™. The mean operative time was 120 minutes. The mean hospital stay was 5 days. In all cases histological findings revealed no malignancy. The mean follow-up was 38 months.
Discussion:
Thoracoscopic thymectomy facilitated the goal of early thymectomy. The right-side approach is preferred because it gains a good visualization of the venous anatomy for dissection. The left side allows a good extended resection of both the thymus and perithymic fat. Thoracoscopic thymectomy should be consider a valid, less invasive alternative to the most radical open approach.
