• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.310-313
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• 2021

There are several types of minimally invasive approaches for thymectomy, of which the transpleural approach by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery is particularly useful. In this approach, thymectomy is performed from either side of the thoracic cage. Thoracic surgeons should be familiar with the principles of the procedure, the anatomy of the region, and surgical strategies for successful thymectomy. The details of transpleural thymectomy are discussed herein.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2021

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the incidence of tumor recurrence, postoperative myasthenia gravis, postoperative complications, and overall survival after limited versus total thymectomy for Masaoka stage I and II thymoma. Methods: A systematic search of the literature was conducted using the PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane databases to identify relevant studies that compared limited and total thymectomy in Masaoka stage I-II patients. The quality of the included observational studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The results of the meta-analysis were expressed as log-transformed odds ratios (log ORs), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: Seven observational studies with a total of 2,310 patients were included in the meta-analysis. There was an overall non-significant difference in favor of total thymectomy in terms of tumor recurrence (pooled log OR, 0.40; 95% CI, -0.07 to 0.87; p=0.10; I2=0%) and postoperative myasthenia gravis (pooled log OR, 0.12; 95% CI, -1.08 to 1.32; p=0.85; I2=22.6%). However, an overall non-significant difference was found in favor of limited thymectomy with respect to postoperative complications (pooled log OR, -0.21; 95% CI, -1.08 to 0.66; p=0.64; I2=36.1%) and overall survival (pooled log OR, -0.01; 95% CI, -0.68 to 0.66; p=0.98; I2=47.8%). Conclusion: Based on the results of this systematic review and meta-analysis, limited thymectomy as a treatment for stage I and II thymoma shows similar oncologic outcomes to total thymectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.806-810
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• 1989

There has been arguing in the proper surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis. But the ultimate goal of operation is complete removal of thymic tissues. In view of previous surgical-anatomic studies that there are frequently thymic tissues from the level of thyroid gland to the diaphragm and from hilum to hilum, en bloc resection of thymus, mediastinal fat including both sheets of pleura and pericardium is reasonable. We experienced four myasthenic patients with radical thymectomy from 1989. As compared to the result of previous simple thymectomy group, the 23 patients who were operated from 1976 to 1988[Group I ], excellent surgical outcome was obtained in radical thymectomy group[Group II ].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.319-324
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• 2021

Robotic thymectomy has been adopted recently and has been shown to be safe and feasible in treating thymic tumors and myasthenia gravis. The surgical indications of robotic technology are expanding, with advantages including an excellent surgical view and sophisticated manipulation. Herein, we describe technical aspects, considerations, and outcomes of robotic thymectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.301-305
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• 1980

Myasthenia gravis is a disorder that affects neuromuscular transmission in a way that is still poorly understood. some think that myasthenia gravis results from a reduction of available acetylcholine receptors in neuromuscular junctions, consequent to some form of autoimmune injury. Surgical interest in this disease was first aroused in 1939 when Blalock observed that some patients with thymic tumors and myasthenia gravis improved following thymectomy. This report represents two cases of myasthenia gravis. The 14-year-old girl was admitted to Korea Universtiy Hospital with chief complaintment of bilateral ptosis, diplopia, swallowing difficulty, and mastication difficulty, which were relieved by administration of edrophonium (Tensilon) chloride, given intravenously. Myasthenica gravis was confirmed and thymectomy was given. After thymectomy, symptoms were relieved but the administration of neostigmine was contijued to be needed till following 3 months. After that period, she was free from this symptoms without anticholinesterase drugs. Second case is 57 year old male who has the symptoms of diplopia, bilatreal ptosis, walking disturbance, and speech difficulty. He had thymectomy too but in thymic tissue, malignant thymoma was included. He has subjective improvement only, with no major reduction of medication requirements after thymectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1035-1040
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• 1992

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease in which the thymus gland is thought to play a central role in the pathogenesis. Thymectomy is now standard therapy, and improvements in surgical techniques, anesthesia, and respiratory care and the use of plasmapheresis have markedly reduced the operative morbidity. We experienced 7 myasthenia gravis with maximal thymectomy from November 1989. As compared with the results of previous classic transsternal thymectomy group the 25 patients who were operated from June 1979 to December 1991[Group B], excellent surgical result was obtained in maximal thymectomy group[Group A]. During follow-up period that ranged from a month to 10.7 years[mean 2 years], the remission rate for the entire group was 15.6 percent and an additional 71.9 percent had improvement[87.5 percent benefited]. In Group A, the remission rate was 42.9 percent with 100 percent of the patients benefiting from operations. But in Group B, 8 percent had remission and a total of 80 percent benefited. In both Groups, there was no operative mortality but there was one case`s mortality in Group B during follow-up period.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.9
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• pp.851-856
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• 1995

Thymectomy has played a central role in the management of myasthenia gravis. Although both the etiology of myasthenia gravis and the reason for improvement after thymectomy remain incompletely explained, complete removal of the thymus is the logical goal of surgical treatment for this disease.From April 1989 to June 1994, maximal thymectomy was performed for 19 cases of myasthenia gravis at Chonnam National University Hospital. The results were as follows:1.Among the 19 cases, male-to-female ratio was 1:1.4, the age ranged 13 years to 71 years, and a diphasic presentation appeared with a peak in young females and a second peak in elderly males;2.Five cases were classified by modified Osserman`s classification as Group I and Group IIa and 14 cases as Group IIb and Group IIc; 3.Histologic examination of the excised thymus glands revealed normality in 5 cases [26% , thymic hyperplasia in 4 [21% , benign thymoma in 8 [42% , and malignant thymoma in 2 [11% ;4.There was no operative mortalities but two deaths occurred during the follow-up periods due to myasthenic crisis and other causes;5.The clinical improvement and the complete remission rates were 85% and 32%, respectively;6.The clinical improvement and the complete remission rates were not so good in patients with thymomas, beeing 70% and 20%, respectively; and 7.Young women with hyperplasia of the thymic tissue tended to show the best response to thymectomy.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.10
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• pp.754-758
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• 2003

Backgroun: Thymectomy was known as an effective treatment modality of myasthenia gravis. In this paper, we analyzed the result of thymectomy and the factors affecting the postoperative system improvement. Material and Method: We analyzed the medical records of 50 patients who received the thymectomy for myasthenia gravis from January 1997 to December 2001. Result: 39 patients showed sympton improvement. The effect of thymectomy as a treatment is 78%. There was no statistically significant correlation between postoperative improvement and Sex, Age, the Weight of thymic tissue, preoperative symptom duration, and preoperative mestinon dosage. However, the thymic pathology and low grade preoperative symptoms were affecting the postoperative prognosis. Conclusion: Thymic hyperplasia showed good prognosis compared to thymoma. Low grade preoperative symptoms (Group I or IIA) also showed good prognosis. So, early thymectomy is recommendable for the good treatment results of myasthenia gravis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.146-151
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• 1990

Myasthenia gravis is a disorder of neuromuscular transmission characterized by weakness and fatigue of voluntary muscles. It is now reasonably established to be due to an autoimmune attack directed against the postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of voluntary muscles. Thymectomy has become increasingly important in the treatment of this disease after the successful case of Blalock in 1939. From January 1984 to December 1988, we performed total thymectomy in 25 cases of myasthenia gravis except one, and get the results as follows. l. Among 25 cases, male to female was 10:15 and the age was ranged from 16 years to 65 years. 2. Thymectomy was done in 24 cases and 1 case of malignant thymoma was not resectable. 3. There were 2 deaths after thymectomy due to myasthenic crisis. 4. There were 19 cases [76 %] of improvement after thymectomy as follows; complete remission was 6 cases [24 %], marked improvement was 9 cases [36 %] and subjective improvement was 4 cases [16 %]. 5. The effect of age, and duration of disease on operative result was not statistically significant, but that of thymic pathology was significant.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.859-866
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• 1985

The characteristic features of myasthenia gravis, which are weakness of voluntary muscle and easy fatigability, result from defective neuromuscular transmission caused by an autoimmune response to acetylcholine receptor. Recently, we performed two cases of thymectomy for the treatment of myasthenia gravis, one was 50 year old man who had malignant thymoma and the other was 19 year old girl who had benign thymic hyperplasia. The former had long duration of symptoms, and showed poor postoperative result. The latter had short duration of symptoms, and showed complete remission. Herewith, we suggest that early thymectomy can give the clinical assets for myasthenia gravis. So we report these two experiences with review of literatures.