Table 5. The spectrum of advanced thoracic MIS/hybrid techniques.

Thoracoscopic approaches	Description of the technique	Advantages
MSACI	Axillary incision along with thoracoscopy	Can retrieve large tumors, can take control of vascular tumors, useful in neonates and infants
Hybrid	Small subxiphoid incision and thoracoscopic thymectomy	Better view of the bilateral pleural cavities and more radical
VATET	Anterior chest wall lifting method	Transcervical considered more suitable for patients with myasthenia gravis as it provides higher radicality
	Flexed-neck position
	Transcervical approach with low collar incision
Robotic surgery (RATS)	On similar principles with any other robotic surgery	Can provide higher degrees of freedom and tactility (by use of ultrasonography)

VATET, video assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy; MSACI, muscle sparing axillary crease incision; RATS, robotic assisted thoracoscopic surgery.