Effects of surgical treatment in thymoma with myasthenia gravis: Our experience in 103 patients

✍ Scribed by Francesco Crucitti; Giovanni Battista Doglietto; Dr. Rocco Bellantone; Vincenzo Perri; Oscar Tommasini; Pietro Tonali

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1992
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 311 KB
• Volume: 50
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-4790
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.2930500113

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

A retrospective study of 103 thymectomies examines the effects of the integration of surgical and medical therapy in patients affected by myasthenia gravis accompanied by thymoma. An extended thymectomy via a median longitudinal sternotomy was used in 102 patients. The operative mortality was 4.85% (5/103 patients), the 10‐year survival rate was 78% with a recurrence rate of 3.06% (3/98). Neoplastic infiltration and postoperative radiotherapy did not influence the survival rate. There was no correlation between a preoperative Osserman's class better than III and postoperative outcome. The improvement of medical treatment, and anaesthesiological and intensive care techniques resulted in a decrease of the operative mortality and long‐term death rate during the last 10 years of our 20‐year series. Extended thymectomy via sternotomy is the best intervention in patients with myasthenia gravis associated with thymoma judged by the low operative mortality and the favorable 10‐year survival rates. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.