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Thymus pathology observed in the MGTX trial
Journal
Myasthenia gravis and related disorders
ISSN
0077-8923
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Wolfe, Gil I.
DOI
10.1111/j.1749-6632.2012.06799.x
Abstract
The MGTX trial is the first prospective, randomized clinical trial that aims to evaluate the impact of extended transsternal thymectomy on myasthenic symptoms, prednisone requirements, and quality of life in patients with non-thymomatous, anti-acetylcholine receptor autoantibody-positive myasthenia gravis (MG). Here, we give an overview of the rationale of thymectomy and the standardized macroscopic and histopathological work-up of thymectomy specimens as fixed in MGTX standard operating procedures, including the grading of thymic lymphofollicular hyperplasia and the morphometric strategy to assess thymic involution.