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NEUROLOGY 1975;25:294
© 1975 American Academy of Neurology

The thymus gland in elderly patients with myasthenia gravis

VINCENT P. PERLO, M.D., BARRY ARNASON, M.D. and BENJAMIN CASTLEMAN, M.D.

Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston.

This study was undertaken to determine the amount and histologic appearance of the persistent thymic tissue removed post mortem from 20 patients over 60 years of age with myasthenia gravis. One patient died several days after thymectomy. No recognizable thymic tissue on gross examination was seen in any patient. On microscopic examination, 11 patients had no thymic tissue. The other nine patients, including the one with thymectomy, all showed marked involution of the thymus. No germinal centers were seen. The thymus glands of two additional patients, still alive after thymectomy at ages 62 and 70, showed similar findings. Marked involution of the thymus also was found in each of six elderly controls. Thymectomy is not likely to be effective treatment for the elderly myasthenic patient.

Received for publication October 17, 1974.

Requests for reprints can be addressed to Dr. Perlo at Massachusetts General Hospital, Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114.




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