About the Thymus | Who We Treat | Highlights | Team | Location | Appointments
If you have a condition related to your thymus, choosing the right care is crucial. Because thymic diseases are rare, it’s important to find a program that has experience diagnosing and treating these conditions.
The Thymus Program at Columbia combines the latest minimally invasive treatments, a multidisciplinary team with experience diagnosing and treating conditions related to the thymus, and unmatched surgical skill. Our doctors have helped develop the most effective treatments for diseases like myasthenia gravis and thymus cancer (thymoma and thymic carcinoma), and we continue to lead the way with innovative new approaches to care.
To make an appointment, please call (212) 305-3408 or complete our online appointment request form.
About the Thymus
The thymus is a small organ in the upper chest, behind the breastbone. It plays an important role in the development of t-lymphocytes, or t-cells. These specialized immune cells help protect the body against pathogens throughout your life. The thymus is most active early in life and starts to shrink after adolescence.
Problems with the thymus can lead to autoimmune diseases like myasthenia gravis or different types of thymus cancer. Thymic disease can be managed with different medications and blood treatments. For some conditions, the thymus is removed completely (thymectomy).
Who We Treat
Conditions We Treat Include:
- Myasthenia gravis
- Thymoma
- Thymic hyperplasia
- Thymic carcinoma (Thymus cancer)
Our Services Include:
- Medical management of thymus conditions
- Monoclonal antibodies
- Plasmapheresis
- Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) therapy
- Minimally invasive surgery
- Maximal thymectomy (radical thymectomy) – surgical removal of the thymus gland
- Robotic assisted surgery
- Thymoma (thymus tumor) surgery
Highlights of Our Program
Leaders in the Field
Columbia is a leading center for thymus research, education, and patient care. We regularly train experts from around the world in the latest minimally invasive surgical techniques. And Columbia surgeons were the first to demonstrate that thymectomy was an effective treatment for myasthenia gravis.
Experience That Matters
For rare conditions, the best outcomes are found at centers with the most experience treating the disease. The Thymus Program at Columbia offers an unmatched record of success treating thymic disease, backed by one of the world’s leading surgical programs.
A Multidisciplinary Approach
Our program brings together specialists from thoracic oncology, neurology, immunology, radiology, and surgery. We offer comprehensive and personalized care—we’ll work with you to determine what treatment is right for you and make sure you understand your care.
Care at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Our surgeons perform procedures at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, the leading medical center in New York City. You’ll have access to the most advanced technology and the latest minimally invasive techniques.
Care Where You Need It–Even at Home
For office visits, our team sees patients in multiple locations in New Jersey and New York City. And when possible, we offer telehealth visits through Columbia Virtual Visits—so you can see one of our specialists right from the comfort of your own home.
Our Team
Our Locations
We have easily accessible locations in New York and New Jersey. Our team is also available for online virtual visits for your convenience.
New York
Price Family Center for Comprehensive Chest Care
Herbert Irving Pavilion, Third Floor
161 Fort Washington Ave
New York, NY 10032
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New Jersey
Columbia Lung and Esophageal Center of New Jersey
85 Harristown Road, #101
Glen Rock, NJ 07452
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ColumbiaDoctors Englewood
25 Rockwood Place
Englewood, NJ 07631
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Make an Appointment
We accept most major insurance plans and can verify your plan when you call to make your appointment.
To make an appointment with our Thymus Program, please call (212) 305-3408, or complete our online appointment request form and our office will follow up with you soon. You can also have your doctor contact us for a referral and our team can help coordinate your care.