SpecialtiesSurgery of the thymus
The thymus is a small lymph organ that lies just behind the breast plate or sternum. In those patients with Myasthenia Gravis (MG), a muscle weakness autoimmune disorder, the thymus may worsen the disease. Often the patient’s neurologists request that the organ be removed. Surgical removal of the thymus (Thymectomy) can improve the symptoms of MG and at times, induce remission of the disease. In addition, some times the thymus develops a tumor called a thymoma, which should be removed.
Often for small thymomas and for patients with MG, we can perform a thymectomy minimally invasively by VATS or robotically. For large thymomas, it may be necessary to divide the breastbone, and the abnormal gland is carefully removed.