Transcervical thymectomy in patients with nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis

Transcervical thymectomy was performed during a 13-year period in 21 patients with nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis. Follow-up showed that only eight patients benefited from the operation. These eight were among the younger patients in the series. This observation is discussed, and also the theoretic background for early thymectomy. The transsternal approach is recommended for thymectomy in elderly patients, but the transcervical may be considered for younger patients, although transsternal reexploration is advocated if this first operation should fail.