(Web Desk) – There’s a small fatty gland that sits behind your sternum and is often said to be ‘useless’ in adulthood._x000D_
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Research, however, suggests the thymus gland is not nearly as expendable as experts once thought._x000D_
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Although not all scientists agree on this._x000D_
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In a study in 2023, US researchers found that those who get their thymus removed face an increased risk of death from any cause in the five years following the surgery._x000D_
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They also face an increased risk of developing cancer during that time._x000D_
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“We discovered that the thymus is absolutely required for health. If it isn’t there, people’s risk of dying and risk of cancer is at least double,” Harvard University oncologist David Scadden said when the research was published._x000D_
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The study is purely observational, which means it cannot show that removing the thymus directly causes cancer or other fatal illnesses._x000D_
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But the researchers are concerned by their findings. Until we know more, they argue that preserving the thymus “should be a clinical priority” where possible._x000D_
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In childhood, the thymus is known to play a critical role in developing the immune system. When the gland is removed at a young age, patients show long-term reductions in T cells, which are a type of white blood cell that combats germs and disease._x000D_
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Kids without a thymus also tend to have an impaired immune response to vaccines._x000D_
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By the time a person hits puberty, however, the thymus shrivels up and produces far fewer T cells for the body. It can seemingly be removed without immediate harm, and because it sits in front of the heart, it is often taken out during cardiothoracic surgery.
