title: Long-term results of thoracoscopic thymectomy for thymoma without myasthenia gravis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the feasibility and safety of thoracoscopic thymectomy with conventional sternotomy thymectomy for thymoma without myasthenia gravis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from 70 patients diagnosed with thymoma, who underwent thoracoscopic thymectomy (n = 25, Group T) or sternotomy  thymectomy (n = 45, Group S) between March 2002 and March 2008, were retrospectively evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean follow-up durations were 78.0 ± 21.9 months and 70.0 ± 23.6 months in Groups T and S, respectively. No deaths occurred in Group T; seven deaths occurred in Group  S, all > 1 month post follow-up. Durations of chest intubation and hospitalization were significantly shorter in Group T than in Group S. No significant between-group difference in the incidence of operative complications was observed. Tumour recurrence-free rates at 5 and 7 years postsurgery  were 96% (both years) in Group T and 95% (both years) in Group S.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term follow-up indicates that thoracoscopic thymectomy for thymoma without myasthenia gravis is effective and is well tolerated, and associated with low rates of operative complications and recurrence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Konkuk University Medical Centre, Konkuk University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chun
authors.forename: Y H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: S-I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: S-R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D056346:Sternotomy; D013906:Thoracoscopy; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D055815:Young Adult