Ectopic thymic tissue in the mediastinum: limitations for the operative treatment of myasthenia gravis

European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery : Official Journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery
Wiesława Klimek-PiotrowskaJuliusz Pankowski

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the distribution of ectopic thymic tissue in the mediastinum and to evaluate the possible relevance of this distribution to the therapeutic yield of thymectomies in patients with myasthenia gravis. In this prospective autopsy study, mediastinal dissections were performed on 50 cadavers without any previously known intrathoracic pathology. The initial dissection was performed in the same way as during the maximal thymectomy. The second stage consisted of dissecting areas of fatty tissue located out of reach of the standard maximal thymectomy, such as the perithyroid, periaortic, peritracheal and retrotracheal areas, as well as the areas adjacent to the right and left phrenic and recurrent laryngeal nerves. Each specimen was independently examined by two pathologists for ectopic thymic tissue. There were 41 (82%) male and 9 (18%) female cadavers, with a mean age of 44.3 years (range: 15-75). Ectopic thymic tissue was detected in 32 out of 50 cadavers (64%). In 10 (20%) cadavers thymic foci were found in locations accessible to the standard surgical intervention and in 22 (44%)-in inaccessible locations. Thymic tissue incidence in individual locations was as follows: retrothyroid, 3 (6%); pe...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 11, 2013·Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery·Yoshito YamadaIchiro Yoshino
Mar 4, 2014·Clinical Radiology·A M Priola, S M Priola
Feb 18, 2016·The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·Marc de Perrot, Karen McRae
Aug 28, 2012·Seminars in Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery·Victor Tomulescu, Irinel Popescu
Mar 18, 2016·European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery : Official Journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery·Bastien OrsiniUNKNOWN EPITHOR project (French Society of Thoracic and Cardiovascular surgery)
Oct 17, 2020·Indian Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery : Official Organ, Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of India·Rachid MaroufBrahim Housni
Jun 1, 2021·European Journal of Cardio-thoracic Surgery : Official Journal of the European Association for Cardio-thoracic Surgery·Hanlu ZhangYun Wang

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