Thymic regrowth after thymectomy
 

Hey

i don't have MG, but I have a rare and severe digestive disease and immunological problems. One year ago, a missvely enlarged thymic gland was detected by routine chest MRI. Since the radiologists could not figure out whether or not the thymic mass was a thymoma. i fnally had surgery with a median sternotomy in April 2012. One month ago some of t he symptoms which I had had prior to surgery and had subsided afterwards were back. i now have again a feeling of intense pressure on my chest and more strainful breathing. BTW: the thymic mass proved to be thymic B cell hyperplasia, but the gland had grown so large that breathing was impaired.
My question: has someone here experienced thymic regrowth after thymectomy?
Thanks

Sarah

Hi Sarah,

I've not experienced thymic regrowth (I had full sternal split thymectomy). However, my understanding is that if the surgeon does not get all of it there is a high incidence of recurrence of problems in any tissue that is left behind.

I hope all works out well for you.

Brian

Thanks Brennan. Actually, I also had a full sternum split (Median sternotomy) so the risk should have been minimized to miss some thymic tissue. But i also read about ectopic thymic tissue around the thyroid gland which seems to Be the rationale for Extended thymectomies.