Disorders of the Mediastinum IV 

Author: Stephen C. Yang, MD
Institution: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
Date Reviewed: April 2014
Learning Domain: General Thoracic
Learning Objective: Management of Thymic Tumors
PowerPoint File: Disorders of the Mediastinum IV

Learning Goals

• The basic level concepts focused on:
  • Thymic Knowledge
• The advanced level concepts focused on:
  • Thymic Tumors
  • Patient Management
  • Clinical Skills

Learning Points

• Exclude myasthenia gravis in patients with thymoma; observe for crisis postop
• Thymomas require resection of all thymic tissue
• Open resection generally suggested for larger (>3cm) tumors
• Thymic carcinomas require tissue diagnosis; post-induction resection requires removal of all involved structures (esp. innominate vein and phrenic nerve)