J Korean Neurol Assoc.  1991 Dec;9(4):439-444.

Effect of Thymectomy in Myasthenia Gravis

• Lee YH
• Lim JG
• Lee DK
• Yi SD
• Park YC

Abstract

This study was performed to observe the effectiveness of thymectomy in the management of myasthenia gravis. Twenty-seven myasthenic patients were undergone thymectomy at Keimyung University Dongsan Hospital between January 1981 and December 1990. The most prevalent age group was the 3rd decade and the myasthenic syrnptom developed below thirty in most. Seven patients had remission and 10 patients fared better after thymectomy. There was no significant effect with age and duration of the disease in the result of thymectomy. Those with less severe group had better response than more severe group and non-thymoma group had higher remission rate without statistical significance than thymoma group. There were better response and more complications in the group with maximal thymectomy than simple thymectomy. This study demonstrated that the effect of thymectomy was better in less severe, nontymoma and maximal thymectomy group in myasthenia gravis.

MeSH Terms

Humans
Myasthenia Gravis*
Thymectomy*
Thymoma