title: The combined cervical and partial sternotomy approach for thymectomy.
abstract: Removal of a normal appearing thymus gland may be necessary, particularly in patients with myasthenia gravis. Complete removal is a basic tenet of this type of operation. A combined cervical and upper sternotomy incision is described. This is appropriate for thymectomy in such patients because of the minimal morbidity and excellent exposure for the thoracic portion of the thymus gland.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Medical School, New England Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: LoCicero
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000601:surgery; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery; D013249:Sternum / Q000601:surgery*; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000601:surgery