What Is Thymectomy?

A thymectomy is a surgical procedure that removes the thymus gland. The first documented thymus removal was performed in 1911, and thymectomy has been used routinely for treatment since the 1940s.

Features

• The thymus gland is part of your endocrine system. The two-lobed organ controls T cell growth early in life and is involved with immune system function. The thymus is located in the front part of the chest above the sternum.

Function

• The American Medical Association Complete Medical Encyclopedia explains that a thymectomy is done to treat myasthenia gravis, a disease that causes weakness in the muscles of the skeletal system. Removal of the thymus gland can also be done to treat thymus cancer.

Types

• There are different ways to remove the thymus:
  The surgeon makes an incision over the sternum (trans-sternal) or a small incision is made at the base of the neck (trans-cervical) to remove the thymus.
  VATS (Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery), a minimally invasive procedure that uses small chest incisions and a camera, may be also be used to perform a thymectomy.

Recovery

• Recovery time from thymectomy varies depending on the type of procedure. Usually an overnight stay is involved. Normal activities can resume in as little as a week, although three to six weeks recovery time is common.

Considerations

• Thymectomy may lessen the severity of myasthenia gravis symptoms, but the degree to which symptoms are lessened varies among patients. Most myasthenia gravis patients who have a thymectomy experience fewer flare-ups, require less medication and have a higher chance of complete remission, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Noticeable improvement can take up to a year.