What is thymoma?
Thymoma is a tumor that affects the epithelial cells of the thymus, a gland located near the sternum, more specifically in the upper part of the anterior mediastinum.
It is a rare cancer that generally affects patients between 40 and 70 years of age, but can occur at any age with an even distribution between both sexes.
Depending on the tumor activity and its degree of invasive growth, thymomas can be divided into:
- Stage I: the tumor is encapsulated in the thymus and surrounding structures are not affected.
- Stage II: the tumor has invaded the surrounding adipose tissues and the mediastinal pleura.
- Stage III: the tumor has invaded the surrounding organs.
- Stage IV: the tumor has metastasized to other organs, has reached the pericardium, pleura, blood vessels and lymphatic vessels.
Prognosis of the disease
The prognosis of thymoma depends on the tumor activity itself, which is usually slow, and the stage the tumor has reached since diagnosis.
Symptoms of thymoma
Most patients with thymoma usually do not experience symptoms. When they are present, we find the following symptoms:
- Muscle weakness
- Asthenia
- Dysphonia
- Dysphagia
- Dyspnea
- Chest pain
- Muscle pain
- Edema
- Fever
- Muscle hypotrophy
- Pancytopenia
- Weight loss
- Cold
- Choking sensation
- Cough
Cough and chest pain are some of the symptoms that thymoma may present.
Diagnosis of thymoma
To make a correct diagnosis, it is advisable to perform a chest x-ray, which will show the neoplasm as a mass located near the heart and the great arteries. Instead, to determine the appropriate treatment, a biopsy of the surgically removed tissues and a CT scan must be performed to determine the extent of the lesion.
What are the causes of thymoma?
The causes of thymoma are unknown and it has not yet been possible to identify the risk factors for this disease.
Can it be prevented?
Since the causes of thymoma and the risk factors have not yet been determined, it is not possible to define specific prevention measures for the disease.
Thymoma treatments
The treatment of thymoma depends on the stage of the tumor, therefore on its clinical presentation and the patient’s state of health:
surgery: the most commonly used treatment for complete removal of the thymic tumor;
radiotherapy: is the treatment used (also after complete surgical resection of the tumor) to kill the cancer cells and prevent their proliferation (even in the case of patients who cannot be operated on);
chemotherapy: used to shrink the tumor or block its growth.
Which specialist to contact?
For proper diagnosis and treatment of thymoma, it is essential to see a thoracic surgeon or an oncologist.