Thymectomy

Effective thymoma treatment surgery.

Thymectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the thymus gland, where thymoma tumors start. Thymectomy often is the first option for thymoma treatment.

Our team has extensive experience performing thymectomies. We perform both traditional open-surgical thymectomies and minimally invasive thymectomies using robot-assisted surgery. Only a few hospitals across the country offer robot-assisted thymectomy. In fact, Henry Ford Health is one of only eight nationally recognized robotic surgery epicenters. Our surgeons teach doctors across the country how to perform thymectomies successfully.

Our extensive expertise gives you a wide range of options when it comes to treating your thymoma. You and your doctor will decide together what option is best for you.

Types of thymectomy we offer

There are two surgical options we choose from when performing a thymectomy. The first is a median sternotomy. During this open surgery, your doctor will make a large incision and split your breastbone to access your thymus gland. We use this approach for large, complex thymus tumors.

The second option is robotic surgery. If you have a smaller thymus tumor, you may be a candidate for this minimally invasive procedure.

Benefits of robotic thymectomy

Robotic surgery lets your surgeon operate with extreme precision. The surgeon controls the robotic surgical system’s arms during the entire procedure.

With just three small incisions between your ribs, your surgeon can access your thymus gland and see it with a high-definition 3D camera. This provides as detailed a view as that of open surgery.

As with any minimally invasive surgery, robotic thymectomy has several additional benefits, including:

• Smaller incisions
• Less blood loss
• Minimal scarring
• Shorter hospital stay
• Faster recovery