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Surgical Treatments for Myasthenia Gravis
Surgical Treatment for Myasthenia Gravis
Surgical removal of the thymus gland (thymectomy) has had a role in the management of patients with thymoma for over 70 years. Although it has never been studied versus medical therapy in a randomized trial (where patients are "randomized" to either have surgery or have no surgery), many non-randomized studies suggest that the operation is beneficial. While very few patients have a complete remission of the disease without thymectomy, 30-40% of patients will have a complete remission after surgery.
At Stanford, we are able to perform thymectomy for most myasthenia gravis patients through a single, 5 cm long incision at the base of the neck. This operation, called transcervical thymectomy can be performed with very little risk or discomfort. Patients return home the day of surgery or the following day, and they generally return to their usual activities within a week. The alternative procedure—thymectomy through a median sternotomy—has a substantially increased complication rate in patients with myasthenia gravis, who are susceptible to lung and other complications due to their muscle weakness.
Before coming to Stanford, Division Chief Dr. Joseph Shrager published the world's largest series of extended transcervical thymectomy. This study demonstrated that the operation provides very similar remission rates to those achieved by thymectomy by median sternotomy, with far less complications and faster recovery. We are among the centers that has the greatest experience with this operation, and we are pleased to be able to offer it to myasthenia gravis patients in the greater San Francisco Bay Area as well as those from around the country.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are research studies that evaluate a new medical approach, device, drug, or other treatment. As a Stanford Health Care patient, you may have access to the latest, advanced clinical trials.
Open trials refer to studies currently accepting participants. Closed trials are not currently enrolling, but may open in the future.