ATS
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to Personal Folders
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Permission Requests
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Masaoka, A.
Right arrow Articles by Monden, Y.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Masaoka, A.
Right arrow Articles by Monden, Y.

Ann Thorac Surg 1996;62:853-859
© 1996 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Original Articles: General Thoracic

Extended Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis Patients: A 20-Year Review

Akira Masaoka, MD, Yosuke Yamakawa, MD, Hiroshi Niwa, MD, Ichiro Fukai, MD, Satoshi Kondo, MD, Masayoshi Kobayashi, MD, Yoshitaka Fujii, MD, Yasumasa Monden, MD

Second Department of Surgery, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, First Department of Surgery, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, and Second Department of Surgery, Tokushima University Medical School, Tokushima, Japan

Accepted for publication April 24, 1996.

Background. Since 1973 we have performed extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis because of the presence of thymic tissue in the anterior mediastinal fatty tissue. Follow-up results were reviewed and influencing factors were investigated.

Methods. Three hundred seventy-five patients with myasthenia gravis (286 nonthymomatous and 89 thymomatous) who have undergone extended thymectomies were reviewed. The status of the patients was evaluated as follows: A (remission), B (improvement), C (no change), D (deterioration), E (death due to myasthenia gravis). Evaluation was performed at 3 and 6 months, and at 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. The effectiveness of the operation was estimated by the remission rate (RR = A/Total number of patients evaluated) and the palliation rate (PR = A + B/Total number of patients evaluated) at each point.

Results. Remission rates of the nonthymomatous patients were 15.2% (3 months), 15.9% (6 months), 22.4% (1 year), 36.9% (3 years), 45.8% (5 years), 55.7% (10 years), 67.2% (15 years), and 50.0% (20 years). Remission rates in the thymomatous patients were 13.6% (3 months), 17.5% (6 months), 27.5% (1 year), 32.4% (3 years), 23.0% (5 years), 30.0% (10 years), 31.8% (15 years), and 37.5% (20 years). Absence of thymoma, younger age, and short duration of the disease were favorable prognostic factors. Thymectomy was effective also in patients with ocular myasthenia gravis. Preoperative steroid administration did not improve the outcome.

Conclusions. Extended thymectomy is an excellent operative procedure for myasthenia gravis in both nonthymomatous and thymomatous patients.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
J. M. Ponseti, J. Gamez, R. Vilallonga, C. Ruiz, J. Azem, M. Lopez-Cano, and M. Armengol
Influence of ectopic thymic tissue on clinical outcome following extended thymectomy in generalized seropositive nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., November 1, 2008; 34(5): 1062 - 1067.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
M. Zielinski
Patients with myasthenia with oropharyngeal involvement need medical preparation before thymectomy.
Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2008; 85(5): 1842 - 1842.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
F. Augustin, T. Schmid, M. Sieb, P. Lucciarini, and J. Bodner
Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery versus Robotic-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery Thymectomy
Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2008; 85(2): S768 - S771.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Asian Cardiovasc. Thorac. Ann.Home page
M. Aghajanzadeh, H. Khoshrang, A. Mohammadzadeh, S. A Roudbari, and A. R Ghayeghran
Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis: Prognostic Factors in 70 Patients
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, October 1, 2007; 15(5): 371 - 375.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
H. K. Kim, M. S. Park, Y. S. Choi, K. Kim, Y. M. Shim, J. Han, B. J. Kim, and J. Kim
Neurologic outcomes of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: Comparative analysis of the effect of thymoma
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., September 1, 2007; 134(3): 601 - 607.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
F. Cakar, P. Werner, F. Augustin, T. Schmid, A. Wolf-Magele, M. Sieb, and J. Bodner
A comparison of outcomes after robotic open extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., March 1, 2007; 31(3): 501 - 505.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
I. K. Park, S. S. Choi, J. G. Lee, D. J. Kim, and K. Y. Chung
Complete stable remission after extended transsternal thymectomy in myasthenia gravis.
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., September 1, 2006; 30(3): 525 - 528.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
Y. Sekine, N. Kawaguchi, C. Hamada, H. Sekiguchi, K. Yasufuku, A. Iyoda, K. Shibuya, and T. Fujisawa
Does perioperative high-dose prednisolone have clinical benefits for generalized myasthenia gravis?
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., June 1, 2006; 29(6): 908 - 913.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
F. Rea, G. Marulli, L. Bortolotti, P. Feltracco, A. Zuin, and F. Sartori
Experience With the "Da Vinci" Robotic System for Thymectomy in Patients With Myasthenia Gravis: Report of 33 Cases
Ann. Thorac. Surg., February 1, 2006; 81(2): 455 - 459.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ICVTSHome page
H.-S. Hsu, C.-S. Huang, B.-S. Huang, H.-C. Lee, K.-P. Kao, W.-H. Hsu, and M.-H. Huang
Thymoma is associated with relapse of symptoms after transsternal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis
Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, February 1, 2006; 5(1): 42 - 46.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
H. Kattach, K. Anastasiadis, J. Cleuziou, C. Buckley, B. Shine, R. Pillai, and C. Ratnatunga
Transsternal Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis: Surgical Outcome
Ann. Thorac. Surg., January 1, 2006; 81(1): 305 - 308.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
K. Kondo and Y. Monden
Myasthenia gravis appearing after thymectomy for thymoma
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., July 1, 2005; 28(1): 22 - 25.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ICVTSHome page
M. de Kraker, J. Kluin, N. Renken, A. P.W.M. Maat, and A. J.J.C. Bogers
CT and myasthenia gravis: correlation between mediastinal imaging and histopathological findings
Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, June 1, 2005; 4(3): 267 - 271.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 MMCTSHome page
M. Zielinski, J. Kuzdzal, and T. Nabialek
Transcervical-subxiphoid-VATS "maximal" thymectomy for myasthenia gravis
MMCTS, April 25, 2005; 2005(0425): 836.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 MMCTSHome page
F. Rea, G. Marulli, and L. Bortolotti
Robotic video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy
MMCTS, March 24, 2005; 2005(0324): 422.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
K. Kondo and Y. Monden
Thymoma and Myasthenia Gravis: A Clinical Study of 1,089 Patients From Japan
Ann. Thorac. Surg., January 1, 2005; 79(1): 219 - 224.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 NeurologyHome page
A. C. Bragdon, D. P. Richman, and M. A. Agius
Treatment of autoimmune myasthenia gravis
Neurology, September 28, 2004; 63(6): 1138 - 1139.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
M. Zielinski, J. Kuzdzal, A. Szlubowski, and J. Soja
Comparison of late results of basic transsternal and extended transsternal thymectomies in the treatment of myasthenia gravis
Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2004; 78(1): 253 - 258.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
J. Bodner, H. Wykypiel, A. Greiner, W. Kirchmayr, M. C. Freund, R. Margreiter, and T. Schmid
Early experience with robot-assisted surgery for mediastinal masses
Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2004; 78(1): 259 - 265.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 ICVTSHome page
M. Zielinski, J. Kuzdzal, B. Staniec, M. Harazda, T. Nabialek, J. Pankowski, A. Szlubowski, and M. Narski
Extended rethymectomy in the treatment of refractory myasthenia gravis: original video-assisted technique of resternotomy and results of the treatment in 21 patients
Interactive CardioVascular and Thoracic Surgery, June 1, 2004; 3(2): 376 - 380.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
J. Bodner, H. Wykypiel, G. Wetscher, and T. Schmid
First experiences with the da VinciTM operating robot in thoracic surgery
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., May 1, 2004; 25(5): 844 - 851.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
S. Endo, T. Yamaguchi, N. Saito, S. Otani, T. Hasegawa, Y. Sato, and Y. Sohara
Experience with programmed steroid treatment with thymectomy in nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis
Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2004; 77(5): 1745 - 1750.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
A. Watanabe, T. Watanabe, T. Obama, T. Mawatari, H. Ohsawa, Y. Ichimiya, N. Takahashi, K. Kusajima, and T. Abe
Prognostic factors for myasthenic crisis after transsternal thymectomy in patients with myasthenia gravis
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., March 1, 2004; 127(3): 868 - 876.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Asian Cardiovasc. Thorac. Ann.Home page
R. S Singh, S. K Behera, R. Saji, and R. S Dhaliwal
Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis: 12-Year Experience
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, December 1, 2003; 11(4): 299 - 303.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Asian Cardiovasc. Thorac. Ann.Home page
Y. El-Medany, W. Hajjar, M. Essa, K. Al-Kattan, Z. Hariri, and M. Ashour
Predictors of Outcome for Myasthenia Gravis after Thymectomy
Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann, December 1, 2003; 11(4): 323 - 327.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
M. Okumura, M. Ohta, Y. Takeuchi, H. Shiono, M. Inoue, K. Fukuhara, Y. Kadota, S. Miyoshi, Y. Fujii, and H. Matsuda
The immunologic role of thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis: implication of thymus-associated B-lymphocyte subset in reduction of the anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody titer
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., December 1, 2003; 126(6): 1922 - 1928.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
N. Ozdemir, M. Kara, E. Dikmen, A. Nadir, M. Akal, N. Yucemen, and S. Yavuzer
Predictors of clinical outcome following extended thymectomy in myasthenia gravis
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., February 1, 2003; 23(2): 233 - 237.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
R. H.V. Reddy, R. Shah, B. Kumar, and J. A.C. Thorpe
Recurrence of stage I thymoma in sternum, 13 years after 'complete' excision
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., January 1, 2003; 23(1): 134 - 135.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
M. de Perrot, J. Liu, V. Bril, K. McRae, A. Bezjak, and S. H. Keshavjee
Prognostic significance of thymomas in patients with myasthenia gravis
Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2002; 74(5): 1658 - 1662.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
H. Hirabayashi, M. Ohta, M. Okumura, and H. Matsuda
Appearance of thymoma 15 years after extended thymectomy for myasthenia gravis without thymoma
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., September 1, 2002; 22(3): 479 - 481.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
J. B. Shrager, M. E. Deeb, R. Mick, C. J. Brinster, H. E. Childers, M. B. Marshall, J. C. Kucharczuk, S. L. Galetta, S. J. Bird, and L. R. Kaiser
Transcervical thymectomy for myasthenia gravis achieves results comparable to thymectomy by sternotomy
Ann. Thorac. Surg., August 1, 2002; 74(2): 320 - 327.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
P. M. Pego-Fernandes, J. R. M. de Campos, F. B. Jatene, P. Marchiori, F. V. Suso, and S. A. de Oliveira
Thymectomy by partial sternotomy for the treatment of myasthenia gravis
Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2002; 74(1): 204 - 208.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
T. Roth, R. Ackermann, R. Stein, R. Inderbitzi, K. Rosler, and R.A. Schmid
Thirteen years follow-up after radical transsternal thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Do short-term results predict long-term outcome?
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., April 1, 2002; 21(4): 664 - 670.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
J. M. Budde and J. I. Miller Jr
Problems in the evaluation of thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: Reply
Ann. Thorac. Surg., March 1, 2002; 73(3): 1028 - 1028.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg.Home page
P. F. Roberts, F. Venuta, E. Rendina, T. De Giacomo, G. F. Coloni, D. M. Follette, D. P. Richman, and J. R. Benfield
Thymectomy in the treatment of ocular myasthenia gravis
J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg., September 1, 2001; 122(3): 562 - 568.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
J. M. Budde, C. D. Morris, A. A. Gal, K. A. Mansour, and J. I. Miller Jr
Predictors of outcome in thymectomy for myasthenia gravis
Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2001; 72(1): 197 - 202.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
K. Okubo, N. Kondo, T. Okamoto, J. Isobe, and Y. Ueno
Excision of an invasive thymoma: a cure for ulcerative colitis?
Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 2001; 71(6): 2013 - 2015.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
A. Mussi, M. Lucchi, L. Murri, R. Ricciardi, L. Luchini, and C. A. Angeletti
Extended thymectomy in myasthenia gravis: a team-work of neurologist, thoracic surgeon and anaesthesist may improve the outcome
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., May 1, 2001; 19(5): 570 - 575.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
J. C. Ruckert, M. Walter, and J. M. Muller
Pulmonary function after thoracoscopic thymectomy versus median sternotomy for myasthenia gravis
Ann. Thorac. Surg., November 1, 2000; 70(5): 1656 - 1661.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
T. C. Mineo, E. Pompeo, T. E. Lerut, G. Bernardi, W. Coosemans, and I. Nofroni
Thoracoscopic thymectomy in autoimmune myasthenia: results of left-sided approach
Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2000; 69(5): 1537 - 1541.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 LupusHome page
R E Barbosa, S Cordova, and J C Cajigas
Coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus and myasthenia gravis
Lupus, February 1, 2000; 9(2): 156 - 157.
[PDF]

Home page
 Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg.Home page
F. Venuta, E. A. Rendina, T. De Giacomo, G. Della Rocca, G. Antonini, A. M. Ciccone, C. Ricci, and G. F. Coloni
Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis: a 27-year experience
Eur. J. Cardiothorac. Surg., May 1, 1999; 15(5): 621 - 625.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Ann. Thorac. Surg.Home page
V. Bril, J. Kojic, W. K. Ilse, and J. D. Cooper
Long-Term Clinical Outcome After Transcervical Thymectomy for Myasthenia Gravis
Ann. Thorac. Surg., June 1, 1998; 65(6): 1520 - 1522.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
ANN THORAC SURG ASIAN CARDIOVASC THORAC ANN EUR J CARDIOTHORAC SURG
J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG ICVTS ALL CTSNet JOURNALS
Copyright © 1996 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.