Surgical therapy of thymomas.

Surgical treatment of thymomas is indicated for Masaoka stage 1 to 3. We are not in favor of mini-invasive techniques. We consider a gold standard to be sternotomy followed by a tumor removal and extended thymectomy. We are convinced it is necessary to perform sternotomy, tumor removal and extended thymectomy after a thymoma resection through thoracotomy to prevent a late onset of myasthenia gravis. In stages 2 to 3 actinotherapy along with chemotherapy should follow surgery to increase the patient's chances for a prolonged survival (Tab. 10).