The Thymus from Antiquity to the Present Day: the History of a Mysterious Gland -- Embryology and Anatomy of the Thymus Gland -- Physiology and Immunology of the Thymus Gland -- Congenital Pathology of the Thymus -- Hyperplastic and Inflammatory Pathology of the Thymus -- Benign and Malignant Tumors -- Clinical Features of Thymus Pathology -- Thymus and Myasthenia Gravis. Pathophysiological and Clinical Features -- Radiologic Diagnosis: X-ray, CT and MRI -- PET Features -- Minimally Invasive and Surgical Diagnosis -- Surgical Anatomy of the Thymus Gland -- Anesthesiological Problems in Thymus Gland Surgery -- Conventional Techniques: Cervicotomy -- Conventional Techniques: Median Sternotomy -- Conventional Techniques: Transthoracic Approach -- Open Videoassisted Techniques: Transcervical Approach -- Open Videoassisted Techniques: Subxiphoid Approach with Bilateral Thoracoscopy -- Open Videoassisted Techniques: Transcervical-Subxiphoid-Videothoracoscopic Maximal Thymectomy -- Open Videoassisted Techniques: Thoracoscopic Extended Thymectomy with Bilateral Approach and Anterior Chest Wall Lifting -- Totally Endoscopic Techniques: Left-Sided Thoracoscopic Thymectomy -- Totally Endoscopic Techniques: Right-Sided Thoracoscopic Thymectomy -- Robotic Techniques -- Complex Surgical Interventions in Superior Vena Cava Syndrome -- Reinterventions for Thymoma Recurrences -- Chemotherapy in Thymic Neoplasms -- Radiotherapy in Thymic Neoplasms -- Complementary Treatments in Thymic Neoplasms: Steroids and Octreotide -- Thymus-related Myasthenia Gravis. Multimodal Therapy and Follow-up -- Thymus Transplantation.

The thymus has been a mysterious gland for centuries. The awareness of its role has been progressing, in particular during the second half of the twentieth century. The thymic pathology is related to several complex congenital, non-oncological, and oncological diseases. Many of these illnesses require a multidisciplinary approach thus involving several specialists: the surgeon, the neurologist, the anesthetist, and the pathologist. For example, myasthenia gravis—the most challenging disease deriving from a thymic trouble—requires an accurate and multimodal treatment. The oncologic pathology of the thymus is likewise complex, and involves also the oncologist and the radiotherapist. In cases of congenital thymic diseases, a transplantation of the thymus can be taken into consideration. This volume is an update on the pathology of this gland and includes 24 chapters written by international and well-known experts. The whole thymic pathology is described and new concepts about the nosological classification and the thymic neoplasm staging system are reported. Some chapters are focused on the radiologic, mini-invasive, and surgical diagnosis, and other chapters deal with surgical and non-surgical treatments. Special chapters are devoted to myasthenia gravis and thymus transplantation. The book will appeal to all the specialists involved in the treatment of thymic pathology, but can also be of interest to practitioners, and undergraduate and graduate students. .