Many neurologists experienced in the treatment of MG are convinced that a thymectomy plays an important role in the therapy of MG, although the benefit is variable, hard to define and remains unproven by today’s strict standards. Thymoma, a tumor originating from the epithelial cells of the thymus and best known for its association with the neuromuscular disorder myasthenia gravis; thymoma is found in 20% of patients with myasthenia gravis. A thymectomy is an operation to remove the thymus. It usually results in remission of myasthenia gravis with the help of medication including steroids.
However, this remission may not be permanent. Thymectomy is indicated when thymoma is present in the thymus. The neurological goals of a thymectomy are a significant improvement in the patient’s weakness, reduction in the medications being employed, and ideally eventually a permanent remission…
