Thymectomy is removal of the thymus, a gland that sits behind the breastbone in front of the heart. It is done for thymoma, a tumour of the gland, and for some people with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disease in which the thymus appears to play a part.
For thymoma, complete removal is the main treatment and is often curative for early stages. For myasthenia gravis without a tumour, trial evidence shows better symptom control and lower steroid needs over the following years, but improvement is gradual and not everyone benefits.
What Thymectomy (Thymus Gland Removal) involves
Before surgery you have a chest CT or MRI, breathing tests and, if you have myasthenia, a review by a neurologist to make your condition as stable as possible, sometimes with immunoglobulin or plasma exchange. Under general anaesthetic the surgeon reaches the gland either through small cuts between the ribs using a camera or robot, or by dividing the breastbone. The whole thymus and the surrounding fatty tissue are removed, because stray thymic tissue can sit in that fat. The nerves to the diaphragm are identified and protected. A chest drain is usually left for a day or two. The specimen goes to pathology for staging.
Who is a good candidate for Thymectomy (Thymus Gland Removal)?
The decision is shared between a thoracic surgeon and, for myasthenia, your neurologist.
- You have a thymoma or a suspicious mass in the front of the chest that looks removable on scans
- You have generalised myasthenia gravis with acetylcholine receptor antibodies, typically aged under 65 and within a few years of onset
- Your myasthenia is stable enough for an anaesthetic
- You accept that benefit in myasthenia builds over months to years
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Myasthenia with MuSK antibodies, where thymectomy has not been shown to help
- Purely ocular myasthenia in most cases
- Poorly controlled myasthenia with swallowing or breathing weakness, until it has been stabilised
- Tumours invading the heart or great vessels, which may need chemotherapy or radiotherapy first
- Severe heart or lung disease making the anaesthetic unsafe
Technique options
- Video-assisted thoracoscopic (VATS) thymectomy: Three or so small cuts on one side of the chest. Used for non-tumour myasthenia and small, well-defined thymomas.
- Robotic thymectomy: Similar keyhole access with wristed instruments, helpful in the narrow space behind the breastbone.
- Transsternal thymectomy: The breastbone is divided. Preferred for large or invasive tumours where wide access is needed.
- Transcervical approach: Through a cut low in the neck. Used in selected centres for small glands without tumour.
What happens during your treatment
Surgery takes 1.5 to 3 hours under general anaesthetic. People with myasthenia are monitored closely afterwards, sometimes in intensive care for the first night, because weakness can flare. Expect a chest drain, pain relief by tablets or a nerve block, and breathing exercises from day one.
Preparing for your trip
Plan for 10 to 14 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
Recovery and results
Hospital stay is 2 to 4 days after keyhole surgery and 5 to 7 days after an open operation. Light activity is possible within 2 weeks of keyhole surgery; the breastbone takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, with no heavy lifting during that time. Myasthenia medicines continue unchanged at first and are reduced slowly by your neurologist over months. Thymoma patients need CT follow-up for many years.
- Back to everyday activity: 2 to 8 weeks depending on approach
- When results show: Myasthenia benefit builds over 1 to 3 years
- How long they last: Permanent removal
Safety, risks and revision policy
In experienced hands this is a safe operation, but the myasthenia itself adds specific risks.
- Myasthenic crisis after surgery, with breathing weakness needing ventilator support
- Injury to the phrenic nerve, causing a raised diaphragm and breathlessness
- Bleeding from the large veins behind the breastbone
- Chest infection or pneumonia
- Wound infection or poor healing of the breastbone after open surgery
- Air leak or fluid around the lung
- Tumour recurrence, sometimes many years later, in thymoma
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Thymectomy (Thymus Gland Removal) in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Thymectomy (Thymus Gland Removal), because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Keyhole, robotic or open approach
- Nights in intensive care and length of stay
- Pre-operative immunoglobulin or plasma exchange for myasthenia
- Pathology and any additional radiotherapy advised for thymoma
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need my thymus as an adult?
The thymus does most of its work in childhood and shrinks afterwards. Removing it in adults has not been shown to cause a clinically important immune problem, although research on long-term effects continues.
Will I be able to stop my myasthenia medicines?
Some people reach remission, more reduce their doses, and some see little change. Any reduction must be slow and guided by your neurologist.
When is it safe to fly home?
After keyhole surgery, usually once the drain is out, a chest X-ray is clear and about a week has passed. Your surgeon will confirm this individually.