title: The history of surgery of the thymus gland.
abstract: The history of surgery of the thymus gland is presented through highlights and landmark publications ranging from prehistoric times to the present day. The evolution of surgical techniques includes transcervical and transthoracic thymectomy along with other techniques such as current thoracoscopic VATS procedures. The significance of myasthenia gravis, autoimmunity, thymic oncology, adjuvant developments, and speculation on the future is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York University, New York, USA.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Kirschner
mesh_terms: D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000266:history* / Q000601:surgery; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000266:history*; D013950:Thymus Gland