Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41425833›Full record

ArticleBMJ neurology open2025

Robotic thymectomy for ocular myasthenia gravis: a case series from a UK tertiary centre.

Thomas Roberts, Stephen Cone, Jennifer Spillane, David Lawrence, Alessandro Maraschi, Kunal Bhakhri

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ neurology open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Thomas RobertsUniversity College London, London, England, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-0505-7747
Stephen ConeUniversity College Hospital, London, England, UK.
Jennifer SpillaneNeurology, Queen Square Centre for Neuromuscular Diseases, London, England, UK.
David LawrenceUniversity College Hospital at Westmoreland Street, London, England, UK.
Alessandro MaraschiUniversity College Hospital at Westmoreland Street, London, England, UK.
Kunal BhakhriThoracic Surgery, University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street, London, England, UK.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Ocular myasthenia gravis (oMG), characterised by ptosis and diplopia, may progress to generalised MG (gMG). Thymectomy is established for seropositive gMG, but its role in oMG remains unclear. Robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (RATS) offers minimally invasive advantages, yet outcomes in oMG are understudied. This case series describes the outcomes of seven patients at University College London Hospitals (UCLH) (2019-2025) undergoing robotic thymectomy for oMG. Methods: We describe seven oMG patients undergoing robotic thymectomy at UCLH (2019-2025), focusing on improvement in daily life using the MG activities of daily living (MG-ADL) score and medication reduction. Results: Patients showed significant pyridostigmine reduction (mean decrease: 246 mg) and improved MG-ADL scores (mean=4.00 to 0.57) with no major complications. No patients progressed to gMG. Conclusion: We saw robotic thymectomy (RATS) reduce pyridostigmine dependence and improve quality of life (MG-ADL) in the seven oMG patients, with no complications. These cases demonstrated successful cases of RATS as a transformative, minimally invasive option for early MG. While thymectomy may reduce the risk of generalisation, further multicentre studies are needed. Careful patient selection remains critical, but RATS may expand feasibility in oMG.

Indexed as

MYASTHENIANEUROIMMUNOLOGYNEUROMUSCULARSURGERY

Identifiers

PMID41425833
PMCPMC12716504

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