A Guide to Thymectomy Surgery
A thymectomy is a surgical procedure that is carried out to remove the thymus gland. This gland is an organ of the immune system. The most common condition against which a thymectomy is carried out is Myasthenia Gravis [MG], which is an auto-immune condition in which antibodies produced inside the human body begin to work against proper neuro-muscular functioning. It is a progressive disease. Severe cases of myasthenia gravis require intubation to keep the air passage clear and to feed the patient. A thymectomy can help control the condition and cause it to go into remission. Another condition for which a thymectomy is performed is a thymoma. Fifteen out of hundred patients suffering from myasthenia gravis also suffer from this cancerous tumor. Thymomas can spread slowly but eventually metastasis to surrounding tissue does happen and the condition becomes that much more difficult to treat. Thymic lymphomas are another type of malignant tumor that requires surgery for removal. However, ...