Myasthenia Gravis with Thymoma: Histopathologic Examination and Rate of Complication After Surgery

Aim It is known that thymus and thymoma have a role in the etiopathogenesis of myasthenia gravis (MG). These associations and their effects on the survival have investigated in several studies since 17th century. The incidence of MG in patients with thymoma was reported to be 20-50% in different studies. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between thymoma and MG and to evaluate the rates of postoperative complications. Material and Methods The study included 25 patients (13 female and 12 male) and the mean age of patients was 42.3 years (range 24 to 70 years). 11 (44%) of patients had been treated with the diagnosis of MG. Eight (57%) of 14 (56%) patients without the diagnosis of MG had no symptoms and thymoma was detected accidentaly. The common symptom of the other 6 (43%) patients was cough. 9 (36%) patients were staged according to WHO classification. The other patients could not be staged according to WHO classification; because they were operated before the year of 2001. Four of patients were stage B1, 2 were stage B2, 2 were stage B3 and 1 was stage AB. Postoperative complication occured in 4 (16%) patients. Results MG was seen with a higher rate in cortical thymoma when compared with medullary thymoma, in immunohistochemical investigations. MG had been thought as a negative prognostic factor for thymoma but in the last years it had been reported as a positive prognostic factor due to the development of postoperative intensive care conditions, medical therapy and follow up.