00:00U.S. researchers have discovered this said-to-be-useless gland may actually not be as expendable
00:07as experts once thought. Science Alert reports the thymus gland, a small fatty gland that
00:13sits behind your sternum, if removed, can increase risk of death from any other cause
00:18later in life. Removing the gland can also magnify risk of developing cancer. The study
00:24used patient data from a state healthcare system comparing the consequence of cardiothoracic
00:30surgery. Those who had their thymus removed were twice as likely to develop cancer within
00:35five years of surgery. Whilst direct association is unconfirmed, the suspected reasoning comes
00:41from the lack of thymus messing with the healthy function of the adult immune system. The authors
00:47conclude, together these findings support a role for the thymus contributing to new T-cell
00:52production in adulthood and to the maintenance of adult human health. The cause for concern
00:58has researchers arguing preserving the thymus should be a clinical priority where possible.
Comments