title: Combined unilateral-thoracoscopic and mediastinoscopic thymectomy.
abstract: To achieve maximal benefit, after thymic tissue and mediastinal fat were removed by thoracoscopic thymectomy, a transverse cervical incision allowed access to remove fat in the neck. A mediastinoscopy was then performed for removal of the fat in the retrosternal area superior to the innominate vein. In 15 cases, ectopic thymic tissue was found. There were three cases in which the residual superior horns of thymus were found in the neck and three in the retrosternal area. The combined use of a mediastinoscope and a thoracoscope can remove almost all the thymus, including ectopic tissues. Long-term results are still being awaited.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Beijing City, China. yulei1118@sohu.com
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Yunfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Krasna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008481:Mediastinoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020775:Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult