Minimal Access Surgery for Thymoma

Thymoma is a rare epithelial tumor of the thymus gland. Despite rarity, it is the most common tumor of the anterior mediastinum. Surgical resection in the form of extended thymectomy is the gold standard operation. Conventionally and even in the current era of significant advances in the minimally invasive surgery, open transsternal extended thymectomy is considered the gold standard, particularly for advanced-stage tumors. There is however significant evidence now available for the use of minimally invasive approaches for early-stage thymomas. This article aims to discuss the various minimally invasive approaches currently being employed for thymomas.