Thoracoscopic resection of an anterior mediastinal tumor.

The therapeutic role of thoracoscopy has expanded with advances in endoscopic surgical instrumentation and laser technology. We report a complete thoracoscopic resection of an encapsulated (stage I) thymoma with lymphocytic predominance in an elderly woman without myasthenia gravis. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course and was discharged on the third postoperative day. Median sternotomy with its attendant morbidity was avoided. Thoracoscopic resection of thymic neoplasms may be a useful approach in carefully selected patients.