Thymic epithelial tumor (TET) is the most common primary tumor of anterior mediastinum. Currently surgical treatment is still the main treatment. Median sternotomy is the first widely used method for tumor resection, but it will cause great trauma for patients. In recent years, the research on minimally invasive surgery has made rapid progress, from video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery to rapidly promoted subxiphoid approach video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery and robotic-assisted thoracic surgery. Although the advantages and disadvantages of various surgical methods and the scope of adaptation are still controversial, a large number of studies have confirmed that minimally invasive surgery has better efficacy and safety for TET.