What does thymectomy mean?
Thymectomy is the surgical removal of the thymus, a small gland in the upper chest that is important to immune-system development and the maturation of T lymphocytes. The procedure may remove the entire gland or only part of it, depending on the condition being treated and the chosen surgical approach. It is commonly performed for thymoma, a tumor of the thymus, and is also an established treatment option for myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular autoimmune disorder. In that setting, thymectomy can improve symptoms and reduce the need for medication in appropriately selected patients, although it is not a cure and is not appropriate for everyone. The word belongs to clinical and surgical usage and refers to the procedure itself, not merely to the anatomical absence of the thymus. It is useful because it names a precise intervention involving a specialized organ whose role in immune regulation makes its removal a consequential operation.
nounThe surgical removal of the thymus gland, either entirely or in part.
- Surgical removal of the thymus gland, performed wholly or partially for conditions such as thymoma or myasthenia gravis.
"The patient underwent a thymectomy to remove a thymoma."
"Her thymectomy was performed using a minimally invasive approach."
"A thymectomy can improve symptoms in appropriately selected patients with myasthenia gravis."
The standard plural, used when referring to multiple surgical procedures.
"The surgeon has performed more than two hundred thymectomies."
Thymectomy removes an organ that helps train immune cells, while becoming an established treatment for myasthenia gravis.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does thymectomy come from?
The English medical noun thymectomy combines the Greek-derived anatomical term thymus with the surgical suffix -ectomy. The suffix comes from Greek ektomē, meaning “excision” or “a cutting out.” Related medical terms such as thymic, thymoma, and thymoplasty preserve the same thym- element.
Related word forms
How thymectomy is actually used
This is a technical medical and surgical term, though it is also familiar in patient information and general medical writing.
Easily confused with thymectomy
A thymectomy removes the thymus gland, whereas a thyroidectomy removes the thyroid gland.