The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Vol 21, 462-469, Copyright © 1976 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Immunology and thoracic surgery
DB Skinner and TR DeMeester
This report reviews the current status of three types of diseases in which
knowledge of immunology is changing the practice of thoracic surgery.
Evidence is presented for myasthenia gravis being an autoimmune disease.
Thymectomy is widely considered to be the therapy of choice for patients
with generalized myasthenia regardless of age or sex. Opportunistic
pulmonary infections of unusual types are being encountered frequently in
patients receiving immunosuppressive drugs for organ transplantation or
malignancy. The important role of bronchial brushing and open lung biopsy
is stressed. Immunotherapy of several types is currently being investigated
experimentally and clinically and promises to change therapy for
bronchogenic and esophageal neoplasms.