Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis and thymoma

In a retrospective study the role of thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis (n=19) and of thymoma (n=7) was analysed in 26 patients operated on between 1989 and 1994 in the Department of Surgery at the University of Cologne. The mean follow-up period was 28 months (follow-up rate: 96,2 %). A transsternal incision was preferred in 24 cases (92,3 %). Patients with myasthenia gravis were preoperatively classified according to Ossermann. Patients with thymoma were classified according to Masaoka. 17 patients (89,5 %) with myasthenia gravis demonstrated a significant improvement. 4 patients (57,1 %) with thymoma were free of recurrence. Stage II to IV thymoma should receive postoperative radiotherapy. Patients with stage IV lesions are usually offered postoperative radiation therapy plus cis-platinum based chemotherapy.