Subxiphoid Versus Lateral Intercostal Approaches Thoracoscopic Thymectomy for Non-myasthenic Early-stage Thymoma: A Propensity Score -matched Analysis

Background: Thymectomy is increasingly being performed via minimally invasive approaches. The present study aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of the subxiphoid approach to video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS) compared with the lateral intercostal approach VATS.

Methods: Patients who underwent VATS thymectomy via subxiphoid and lateral intercostal approaches in our hospital between 2015 and 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. A series of perioperative outcomes, including clinical and surgical results, postoperative pain scores and cosmetic results, was compared in a propensity score matching analysis.

Results: A total of 98 patients diagnosed with non-myasthenic early-stage thymoma underwent complete thymectomy by VATS. Propensity score analysis revealed that 28 patients treated with the subxiphoid approach and 28 patients treated with the lateral intercostal approach had the same baseline characteristics. Compared with those in the lateral intercostal approach group, patients in the subxiphoidapproach group yielded lower pain scores and shorter postoperative hospital stays. Other advantages of the subxiphoid approach included decreased inflammatory cytokine response and superior cosmesis. There were no significant differences in postoperative complications between the two groups. All these patients recovered well when discharged. There were no perioperative deaths.

Conclusions: Our data suggest that subxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic radical thymectomy is a less invasive procedure for the treatment of non-myasthenic early-stage thymoma and provides a satisfactory cosmetic effect. Owing to the limitation ofour retrospective study, further prospective studies are needed to evaluate long-term and oncologic outcomes of subxiphoid approach VATS thymectomy.