Hamdani Riaz, Hamdani Mehdi.
Myasthenia Gravis - an overview and result of six patients treated with mediastinal radiation at INMO Wadmedani (Sudan).
Pak J Radiol Jan ;15(3):29-40.

Myasthenia Gravis is an autoimmune disease, conventionally treated medically (anticholinesterase inhibitors, immunosupressors e.g. prednisone or cyclosporin or plasmopheresis and IgG immunoglobolone therapy) or surgically. There are few studies showing that localized radiation to superior mediastinum can give excellent control comparable to surgical removal of thymus yet saving patient of major surgical intervention over top of anesthesia considerations. A total of six patients were initially included in the study. A moderate dose of 3000 cGy was delivered to the thymus area over three weeks and patients were followed for 16 months. All of them were diagnosed clinically and were on anticholinesterase therapy for a quite good number of years and disease was progressive clinically, needing higher doses of drugs. It showed a response rate of about 75%. Therefore radiation therapy can be effective and cheaper mode of treatment and management for this devastating paralyzing and decapacitating illness.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com