Ebook: Surgery of the Thymus: Pathology, Associated Disorders and Surgical Technique

The thymus gland has always fascinated me and, despite the ever-growing abun­ dance of medical books, this subject seemed to be a bit of a "poor relation." As a surgeon, the lack of information was particularly frustrating, and this is why I de­ cided to edit a text covering the different aspects of thymic pathology, surgery, and prognosis. It is always difficult to strike a balance between what is to be included and left out of a book about a subject intended for readers of different specialities. This one was written primarily to provide valuable information to surgeons on most aspects related to thymic surgery and to other specialists who are often confront­ ed with thymic diseases. Written by leaders in their respective fields, I hope it will provide an excellent reference for those interested in an up-to-date synthesis of general knowledge of such highly specialized areas as immunology, pathology, and neuroscience. The opening chapters on clinical management provide a historical review and descriptions of the normal thymus and surgical pathology. Later chapters review the various diseases related to the surgical pathology of the thymus. Investiga­ tions, surgical procedures, and other therapeutic modalities are also extensively covered. The book closes with chapters on the postoperative evolution of myas­ thenia gravis and thymic tumors, as well as on the effect of thymectomy in hu­ man oncogenesis.

---

This book, the first written for surgeons that encompasses all the different aspects of thymology, is intended as a handy reference for surgeons who operate on the thymus. They will find in it not only practical information on preoperative investigation methods and surgical techniques, but also extensively referenced reviews of the general pathology and immunopathology of the gland. The clinical appearance and the outcome of diseases of the thymus, particularly myasthenia gravis, are discussed in detail, and the care of myasthenic patients in the days and months following surgery is described. The surgical pathology of thymic tumors is covered at length, as are current treatment modalities and the outcome after operation.