A 22-year-old female student was found to have an anterior mediastinal mass on a chest x-ray for a persistent cough. What finding is true regarding the thymus gland?
High-Yield Explanation
The thymus gland is removed in certain cases of myasthenia gravis. It is located in the anterior mediastinum and can be approached by a cervical or mediastinal approach. It arises from the third and fourth branchial arches. Pneumococcal infections are particularly likely to develop after splenectomy performed in children.