WCLC 2025 - Posters & ePosters-EP.14.18 Post-Thymectomy Myasthenia Gravis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes

EP.14.18 Post-Thymectomy Myasthenia Gravis: A Multicenter Retrospective Study on Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes

Pdf Summary

This multicenter retrospective study investigated clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients who developed Myasthenia Gravis (MG) after thymectomy for thymoma. Conducted across five national referral centers in Italy, the study included 30 patients with a median age of 51 years, predominantly male (60%). Most patients had good performance status (ECOG 0–1 in 83.3%) and moderate anesthetic risk (ASA II in 43.3%).<br /><br />Pathologically, thymomas were mostly T1a stage (40%) with various histological subtypes: B2 (33.3%), B1 (26.7%), and B3 (20%). Surgical approaches mainly involved sternotomy (80%), with thoracotomy (13.3%) and robotic surgery (6.7%). MG onset after surgery was variable, with a median time of 20.2 months post-thymectomy (range 1.5 to nearly 198 months), reflecting the unpredictable nature of this complication.<br /><br />Clinically, MG severity was mostly mild to moderate (MGFA class IIa 23.3%, IIb 16.7%), and anti-acetylcholine receptor antibodies were detected in 56.7% of cases. Treatment commonly included steroids and acetylcholinesterase inhibitors. Despite therapy, complete remission was rare (13.3%), with most patients experiencing persistent symptoms.<br /><br />The study highlights MG as a rare but serious and long-term autoimmune complication following thymectomy for thymoma. It emphasizes the need for prolonged postoperative surveillance due to delayed MG onset and suggests that a multidisciplinary approach is essential for management. Future research should focus on identifying predictors of post-thymectomy MG and developing improved therapeutic strategies to enhance patient outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Francesco Guerrera

Meta Tag

Speaker Francesco Guerrera

Topic Mesothelioma, Thymoma, and Other Thoracic Tumors

Keywords

Myasthenia Gravis

Thymectomy

Thymoma

Autoimmune Complication

Clinical Characteristics

Postoperative Surveillance

MGFA Classification

Anti-Acetylcholine Receptor Antibodies

Multicenter Retrospective Study

Therapeutic Strategies