Complex robotic resection of a large middle mediastinal thymoma
A Boutin Adrien Boutin, MD
M Sarsam Mathieu Sarsam, MD
M Lair Mickaël Lair, MD
N Piton Nicolas Piton, MD
C Peillon Christophe Peillon, MD
JM Baste Jean-Marc Baste, MD, PhD
Epublication WebSurg.com, Jun 2016;16(06). URL: http://websurg.com/doi/vd01en4721
A 62-year-old man had an asymptomatic middle mediastinal tumor with a 4.5cm diameter, opposite to the superior vena cava and the azygos vein in the Barety's space, which was discovered on thoracic CT-scan performed during an urothelial tumor follow-up. Past history includes an urothelial carcinoma grade I treated with transurethral cystectomy, an ischemic cardiopathy with a single medical treatment, a prostate hypertrophy, and a sigmoid diverticulosis. After a multidisciplinary review of the case, a mediastinoscopy was performed. It demonstrated the presence of a thymoma. The patient was well informed of the operative risks and of the possibility of conversion, but thanks to our experience and national recommendations, we were able to perform a radical robotic assisted thymectomy. The operation took during 3 hours with less than 100cc of bleeding. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 3. Histopathological analysis showed a type AB thymoma according to the OMS 2015 classification. The staging was IIb according to Masaoka. No adjuvant radiotherapy was indicated.
Complex left upper lobectomy with lymphadenectomy using a full endoscopic robotic technique
This is the case of a 72-year-old woman, followed up for chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated with chemotherapy.
During her follow-up, a nodule in the left upper lobe as well as multiple bulky lymph nodes were discovered.
The multidisciplinary meeting proposed a wedge resection more or less associated with a lobectomy depending on the results of frozen section.
The difficulty of this procedure lies in bulky lymph nodes around the pulmonary artery.
Due to the complexity of the case, we prefer to use a RATS approach rather than a VATS approach, as it allows for a sharp dissection using a bipolar Maryland forceps.
JM Baste, B Bottet, C Peillon
Robotic assisted thoracoscopic lingulectomy
A 67-year-old otherwise healthy woman presented to her primary care physician with complaints of dyspnea. Her primary care physician obtained a chest X-ray, which revealed a left upper lobe abnormality. A follow-up chest CT revealed a 16mm left upper lobe mass concerning for malignancy in the lingula. A bronchoscopy with brushings was performed and pathology was positive for a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. As part of a clinical staging, a PET-CT was obtained and demonstrated no FDG avid disease in the thorax or elsewhere. Pulmonary function tests revealed an FEV1 of 2.28 L (122% predicted) and DLCO of 19.05 (112% predicted). The therapeutic objectives were to perform an oncologically sound anatomic lung resection and lymph node dissection for the patients early stage biopsy proven lung cancer. The robotic platform was used in this case and we aimed to demonstrate our approach to a robotic assisted thoracoscopic lingulectomy for lung cancer.
HJ Feldman, M Kent, J Wilson
Robot-assisted left video thoracoscopic partial thymectomy for mediastinal ectopic parathyroid adenoma
This film presents the case of an 85-year-old man who suffered from primary hyperparathyroidism diagnosed on a pathological cervical fracture and elevated laboratory values for parathyroid hormone and calcium. Preoperative localizing studies showed no anomalies on the parathyroid gland. However, a left anterior mediastinal ectopic parathyroid adenoma was found on 99m Tc-MIBI scintigraphy.
Mediastinal parathyroid adenomas can be resected in a minimally invasive fashion via a conventional transcervical approach, or using a video-assisted thoracoscopic resection, allowing for an access to the lower cervical area without the use of a cervicotomy. Robotic-assisted thoracic surgery (RATS) also allows for a better visualization and less instrument crowding, with no difference in clinical results.
Considering the good efficacy and the better chances not to leave tumor tissue missed out during surgery, and the impossibility to install the patient with cervical hyperextension, we decided to perform a robot-assisted thoracoscopy through a left-sided approach, instead of the conventional transcervical approach.
During the intraoperative period, the adenoma was identified, and we did not feel the need to perform PTH assay. There were no complications in the postoperative period. PTH levels reached a normal range after adenoma removal, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 3. He remains asymptomatic at 3 months after the intervention.
The robotic resection of an intrathymic parathyroid adenoma is a safe and effective alternative to the conventional transcervical approach.
JM Baste, M Dazza, C Peillon
Robotic assisted resection of a complex thymoma
Our objective is to demonstrate the management of a very complex mediastinal tumor. To do so, a minimally invasive resection is used, highlighting the benefit of a robotic approach.
The present case is that of a 64-year-old patient diagnosed with an anterior mediastinal mass discovered during myasthenia assessment with positive antibodies.
The tumor was in contact with the aorta, pulmonary artery, and the innominate vein with probable pericardial invasion.
Given such a complex localization, the challenge was to propose a radical resection using minimally invasive surgery with robotic assistance.
As compared to a VATS approach, a robotic approach provides a better view and instruments to achieve complete resection in complex mediastinal tumor. What is important to first control on the CT-scan is the size of the tumor as compared to the thoracic cavity's size which will allow robotic surgery with a good operative field.
Pericardial resection associated with a lateral plasty of the innominate vein were required to achieved complete R0 resection. The entire resection was performed using a bipolar forceps.
The postoperative course was uneventful. The patient is discharged on postopeartive day 3. The phrenic nerve was preserved.
Pathological analysis of the operative specimen is evocative of a B1 thymoma classified IIb on the Masaoka staging system with complete R0 resection (margins were clear).
The entire file was discussed at the Rhythmic meeting, which is the national meeting for thymoma tumor management held every two weeks. A simple survey was put forward without any adjuvant radiotherapy.
JM Baste, E Roussel, L Haddad, C Peillon
Thymoma: VATS or not?
Based on an analysis of the recent literature, Dr. Thomas discusses the pros and cons of the VATS approach for some thymomas.