What is the treatment of thymoma and thymic carcinoma?
External radiation therapy is used to treat thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Chemotherapy is a cancer treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
How is thymoma treated?
Surgery. Surgery to remove the tumor is the most common treatment of thymoma. After the doctor removes all the cancer that can be seen at the time of the surgery, some patients may be given radiation therapy after surgery to kill any cancer cells that are left.
What is the survival rate of thymic carcinoma?
5-year relative survival rates for thymus cancer
| SEER Stage | 5-Year Relative Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| Localized | 93% |
| Regional | 79% |
| Distant | 40% |
| All SEER stages combined | 71% |
What is the difference between thymoma and thymic carcinoma?
Thymoma cells tend to grow very slowly, and it’s rare for them to spread to other parts of the body. Thymic carcinoma cells, on the other hand, grow rapidly and tend to spread throughout the body. Indeed, by the time thymic carcinoma is diagnosed, there’s a significant chance that it will have already metastasized.
Where does thymic carcinoma spread to?
Occasionally, it can spread to the lining of the lung, called the pleura. Less often, it can spread to other parts of the body. Thymic carcinoma (see Stages) also starts in the thymus. It is more likely to spread to the lining of the lungs and other parts of the body.
Can thymic carcinoma be cured?
But in most cases, the treatment options are limited to radiation therapy and/or chemo. These treatments can often help control the cancer for a time, but they are very unlikely to result in a cure. Because recurrent cancers can be hard to treat, clinical trials of new types of treatment may be a good option.
How serious is a thymoma?
Most thymomas have the potential to behave like a cancer and spread beyond the thymus, but many appear to behave in a benign fashion and are noninvasive. Less commonly, it appears to have spread beyond the thymus. People sometimes refer to such an invasive thymoma as malignant thymoma.
Is thymoma curable?
Most thymomas have a relatively high rate of cure with either surgery alone, or surgery plus radiation therapy.
Does anyone survive thymic carcinoma?
If the thymic cancer is located only in the thymus, the 5-year survival rate is 92%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 77%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 31%.
Can thymic carcinoma spread to brain?
Although uncommon, patients with advanced thymic carcinoma can develop brain metastases. Appropriate imaging and aggressive treatment should be considered for these patients.
What causes thymic carcinoma?
No specific inherited, environmental, or lifestyle risk factors have been strongly linked to thymoma or thymic carcinoma. Some studies have suggested a possible link with exposure to radiation to the upper chest area, but this has not been confirmed. The only known risk factors are age and ethnicity.
Is thymic carcinoma rare?
Although thymic tumors are the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum (the front part of the chest cavity), overall they are rare. They occur at a rate of only 1.5 cases for every million people each year in the US. This works out to about 400 cases per year (the exact number diagnosed each year is not known).
What is the survival rate of thymus cancer?
Surgical removal of the tumor is usually the first line of therapy. Depending on the stage of the cancer at diagnosis, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and radiation may also be prescribed. The 10-year survival rate for patients diagnosed with thymic carcinoma is approximately 28%.
What are the signs of thymus cancer?
The signs and symptoms of thymus cancer include: a cough that doesn’t go away. chest pain. difficulty breathing (also called shortness of breath) a hoarse voice.
What is the removal of the thymus gland?
The thymus is a gland located in the chest area that helps the immune system develop. A thymectomy is the removal of the thymus gland. The thymus may be removed as a treatment of Myasthenia Gravis in the hope of increasing the chance of remission (absence of symptoms and no need of medication) from the disease.
What is the cancer of the thymus gland?
Thymoma, which is a tumor of the thymus gland. The thymus gland is part of the lymphatic system and is located behind the breastbone. Thymic carcinoma (also called C thymoma), which is a rare type of cancer of the thymus gland.
