Original articleGeneral thoracicAdvanced Stage Thymomas and Thymic Carcinomas: Results of Multimodality Treatments
Section snippets
Material and Methods
We analyzed 56 patients with thymic tumors (of 210 resected during the same period) who underwent a multimodality treatment between 1976 and 2003. The diagnosis of thymic tumor was reviewed and confirmed by our pathologists (F.B., G.F.) according to the World Health Organization classification [17]. Collection of data and follow-up were performed by review of medical charts and phone contact or examination of all patients. There were 35 men and 21 women, with a mean age of 53.3 years (range, 25
Results
Thirty-six patients had no thymus-related syndrome, 14 had myasthenia gravis, 4 had red cell aplasia, 1 had hypogammaglobulinemia, and 1 had multiple syndromes (myasthenia gravis, red cell aplasia, thrombocytopenia, and rheumatologic syndrome). The preoperative diagnosis of thymoma was performed in 29 patients: in 15 cases by mediastinotomy, in 6 by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and in 8 by computed tomography or ultrasound biopsy. In 15 cases the myasthenia gravis or red cell aplasia
Comment
Although surgery remains the mainstay in the treatment of thymoma [2, 19], the best strategy and which multimodality treatment should be adopted in the more advanced and invasive tumors have yet to be determined. In this study we analyzed 56 patients with stage III and IVA thymic tumors, aiming to compare the results of different multimodality treatments. Despite the fact that the study is not randomized, the series (single-institution experience) is remarkable, and some important concerns can
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