Thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis: outcome, clinical and pathological correlations in 197 patients on a 20-year experience.
We studied 197 patients with thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis (T-MG) to identify variables that can influence the natural history of the disease and the therapeutical approaches. Multivariate analysis showed that neither clinical nor pathological variables were associated with a better chance to reach complete stable remission. The video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) was not significantly correlated with a lower chance of achieving complete stable remission compared with the classical transsternal approach (T-3b) (p=0.1090). Thymoma recurrence was not correlated with surgery by VATET or T-3b. VATET was safe and reliable for removal of thymoma. The low chance of achieving remission (9.64%) in T-MG underlines the importance of an early diagnosis as well as the need for more aggressive therapeutic strategies.
Maggi
Lorenzo
L
Divisione Malattie Neuromuscolari e Neuroimmunologia, Fondazione Istituto Neurologico "Carlo Besta", Milan, Italy.
Andreetta
Francesca
F
Antozzi
Carlo
C
Baggi
Fulvio
F
Bernasconi
Pia
P
Cavalcante
Paola
P
Cornelio
Ferdinando
F
Muscolino
Giuseppe
G
Novellino
Lorenzo
L
Mantegazza
Renato
R
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015993:Life Tables; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D020535:Video-Assisted Surgery / Q000379:methods
D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors