Robot-assisted paravertebral schwannoma resection

Robot-assisted thoracic surgery is at the forefront of minimally invasive approaches for resection of various intrathoracic benign and malignant tumors. The robotic approach is particularly suitable for solitary paravertebral schwannomas along the thoracic spine, lacking an intraspinal component, that are typically treated with complete resection and carry an excellent prognosis. Here, robotic platforms have established themselves as safe, reliable, and reproducible tools in expanding the surgeon’s reach in complex tumor resections and enable junior surgeons to overcome the learning curve quicker without compromising oncologic principles or patient safety. This chapter appraises the existing literature and provides an in-depth review of the technical aspects of robot-assisted paravertebral schwannoma resection.