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Thymectomy

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Color Atlas of Pediatric Anatomy, Laparoscopy, and Thoracoscopy

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Abstract

Thymectomy in children is performed most commonly for autoimmune myasthenia gravis. Although there are no randomized controlled trials, there is evidence to show that selected patients undergoing thymectomy are more likely to improve, become asymptomatic, or achieve medicine-free remission compared with those who do not [1]. Advances in thoracoscopy have allowed this procedure to be carried out with reduced morbidity compared with open thymectomy.

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References

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Suggested Reading

  • Pavia R, Mondello B, Monaco F, Pavone A, Micali V, Barresi P, et al. Role of thymectomy in the treatment of myasthenia gravis: considerations and personal cases [in Italian]. G Chir. 2003;24:255–8.

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  • Safieddine N, Keshavjee S. Anatomy of the thymus gland. Thorac Surg Clin. 2011;21:191–5.

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  • Spillane J, Higham E, Kullmann DM. Myasthenia gravis. BMJ. 2012;345:e8497.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatric Surgery, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

    Melissa Short

  2. Department of Paediatric Surgery, Birmingham Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation, Birmingham, UK

    Dakshesh H. Parikh

Authors
  1. Melissa Short
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  2. Dakshesh H. Parikh
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Paediatric Surgery, Royal Hospital for Sick Children Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

    Merrill McHoney

  2. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom

    Edward M. Kiely

  3. Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, London, United Kingdom

    Imran Mushtaq

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© 2017 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Short, M., Parikh, D.H. (2017). Thymectomy. In: McHoney, M., Kiely, E., Mushtaq, I. (eds) Color Atlas of Pediatric Anatomy, Laparoscopy, and Thoracoscopy. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53085-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-53085-6_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-662-53083-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-662-53085-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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