A case of thymoma-associated multiorgan autoimmunity including polymyositis and myocarditis.

Background: Polymyositis and myocarditis associated with thymoma are exceptionally rare conditions and usually accompanied by myasthenia gravis (MG) and have been recognized as critical conditions. Thymoma-associated multiorgan autoimmunity was reported recently with skin, liver, and intestinal manifestations similar to those seen in graft-versus-host disease.

Case Presentation: A 77-year-old female presented to our department with exacerbation of ptosis and local recurrence of thymoma.

Surgical site infection at chest tube drainage site following pulmonary resection for malignant lesions.

Background: We sometimes experience postoperative surgical site infection (SSI) at the chest tube drainage site (CDS) after thoracotomy. The incidence of and risk factors for SSI at the CDS have remained unclear.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study to determine the incidence and risk factors for SSI at the CDS.

Distribution of descending necrotizing mediastinitis and efficacy of distribution-specific drainage.

Background: Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) resulting from oropharyngeal and cervical abscess is a life-threatening condition. This study attempted to improve our recognition of the extension and distribution of the abscess for ideal thoracic drainage.

Methods: We performed a retrospective clinical analysis of seven patients who underwent thoracic drainage for DNM with available clinical data.

[Transition from Uniportal to Robot-assisted Surgery for Trans-subxiphoid Thymectomy;Merit and Demerit of Reduce Port Surgery].

The subxiphoid approach is useful in thymectomy, and its disadvantages can be ameliorated by the robot-assisted surgery( RAS). It was suggested that the increase in the number of ports due to RAS in the thymectomy with the trans-subxiphoid approach( RTts) would not be a disadvantage in any aspect other than cosmetology. RAS offers surgeons various technical advantages in thymectomy, however these are difficult to quantify.

Thoracoscopic Thymectomy for Large Thymic Cyst: Myasthenia Gravis With Thymoma Concealed by Thymic Cyst.

We herein report a case of myasthenia gravis (MG) in which thoracoscopic thymectomy was performed for a large thymic cystic lesion using a subxiphoid approach. We have previously suggested the usefulness of the subxiphoid approach in thymectomy. The indications of thoracoscopic thymectomy were recently expanded to include large thymic cystic lesions without intraoperative rupture of the lesions.