title: Effects of surgical treatment in thymoma with myasthenia gravis: our experience in 103 patients.
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.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Patologia Speciale Chirurgica, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Crucitti
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Doglietto
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bellantone
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Tommasini
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tonali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors