title: Extended videothoracoscopic thymectomy in nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis.
abstract: Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an uncommon, organ-specific, autoimmune chronic neuromuscular disorder involving the production of autoantibodies directed against the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (anti-AchRab). It is characterized by weakness and rapid fatigability of voluntary muscles. Thymectomy is performed early in the course of the disease and is indicated for adults less than 70 years old. For many years, the clinical efficacy of thymectomy has been questioned and so far, its benefits in nonthymomatous MG have not been firmly established. Furthermore, the precise mechanisms of action of thymectomy are unknown although possible explanations include removal of the source of continued antigen stimulation and of the AchRab-recruiting B-lymphocytes as well as immunomodulation. However, thymectomy remains indicated in patients with MG and is widely applied to increase the probability of improvement or remission. This article presents the evolution of technical and surgical advances achieved within the authors' program of extended endoscopically assisted thymectomy since 1995. The use of video-assisted thoracic surgery and its variants for performing thymectomy in MG patients is now well established and will continue to evolve for further improvement in the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Myasthenia Gravis Unit, Fondazione Policlinico Tor Vergata, Tor Vergata University, Viale Oxford 81, Rome 00133, Italy. mineo@med.uniroma2.it
authors.forename: Tommaso C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Mineo
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pompeo
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery*; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000033:anatomy & histology