title: [Comparative analysis of video-assisted thoracic surgery versus open resection for early-stage thymoma].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) has significantly developed over the last decade. However, a VATS approach for thymoma remains controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of VATS thymectomy for the treatment of early-stage thymoma and to compare the outcomes with open resection.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comparative study of 59 patients who underwent surgical resection for early stage thymoma (VATS: 44 and open resection: 15) between 1993 and 2011 was performed. Data of patient characteristics, morbidity, mortality, length of hospital stay, the relationship between miasthenia gravis-thymoma, recurrence, and survival were collected for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thymomas were classified according to Masaoka staging system: 38 in stage I (VATS group: 29 and open group: 9) and 21 in stage II (VATS group: 15 and open group: 6). The mean tumor size in the open group was 7.6cm (13-4cm) and in the VATS group 6.9cm (12-2.5cm). The average length of stay was shorter in the VATS group than in the open group (P<.001). No significant differences were found in the estimated recurrence-free and overall 5-year survival rates (96% vs. 100%) between the 2 groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VATS thymectomy for early-stage thymoma is technically feasible and is associated with a shorter hospital stay. The 5-year oncologic outcomes were similar in the open and VATS groups.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital General de Albacete, Albacete, España. Electronic address: atrivi_17@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Triviño
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Torácica General, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Congregado
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Torácica General, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loscertales
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Torácica General, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cozar
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Torácica General, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pinos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Torácica General, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carmona
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Torácica General, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Merchán
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Cirugía Torácica General, Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena, Sevilla, España.
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Girón-Arjona
mesh_terms: D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013945:Thymoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Cirugía torácica video-asistida; Thymectomy; Thymoma; Timectomía; Timoma; Video-assisted thoracic surgery