Distribution of thymic tissue at the anterior mediastinum. Current procedures in thymectomy.

The distribution of thymic tissue at the anterior mediastinum was examined histologically in 18 cases following the removal of the adipose tissue which was located outside the thymic capsule at the time of thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. The gross adipose tissue revealed the presence of histological thymic tissue, including Hassall's bodies, in 13 of 18 cases. In order to be sure of extirpating all of the thymic tissue, the adipose tissue at the anterior mediastinum as well as the gross thymus should be removed.