The dilemma of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis

Abstract

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is an autoimmune disease that affects the neuromuscular junction causing fluctuating weakness of skeletal muscles. It is considered a rare disease with an estimated prevalence of 7.77/100,000. Surgical treatment is done by simple or extended thymectomy. Although thymectomy has been used in the treatment of MG since 1941, the role of thymectomy for MG is not completely understood. Perhaps, one of the longest unresolved issues in thoracic surgery is the role of thymectomy in the treatment of MG. Persistent questions and issues involve not only the surgical approach to thymectomy, but also the role of thymectomy itself in the treatment of MG. This article focuses on the review of thymectomy in MG patients.

Keywords

• autoimmune
• myasthenia gravis
• thymectomy
• thymoma