Procedure

Transsternal thymoma resection

Department of Thoracic Surgery, Polyclinic Umberto I, University of Rome "La Sapienza", v.le del Policlinico 155, Rome, Italy

^* Corresponding author: ^* Tel.: +39-06-4461971/49970162; fax: +39-06-49970735. E-mail: sofed{at}libero.it

Thymomas are traditionally regarded as tumours arising from the epithelial cells of the thymus. They are the second most frequent mediastinal tumour in the adult and show a variable clinical presentation and clinical course. Complete surgical resection should be the gold standard. The preferred approach is complete median sternotomy and an extended thymectomy is usually performed. A multimodality approach should be considered for invasive lesions or tumours giving intrathoracic metastases.

Key Words: Thymoma • Surgery • Multimodality approach