Pediatric thymomas: report of two cases and comprehensive review of the literature

Abstract

Pediatric thymomas are rare tumors with a slight male predominance. Wide variations were observed in the treatment of thymomas across all stages. Our review indicates a need for large database and multi-institutional studies to clearly elucidate clinical course, prognostic factors and outcome.

Treatment outcome in juvenile‐onset myasthenia gravis

“…All of our patients treated with thymectomy had generalized disease . There was only 1 patient with thymoma, confirming the rarity of thymoma‐related MG in children . Our safety data for thymectomy are consistent with the literature .…”

“…9,22,25,29 There was only 1 patient with thymoma, confirming the rarity of thymoma-related MG in children. 9,30 Our safety data for thymectomy are consistent with the literature. 9,22,25 Interestingly, 1 of our patients who was seropositive at diagnosis seroconverted to MuSK-MG after thymectomy.…”

Minimally Invasive Surgery in Childhood Cancer: A Challenging Future

“…Thymoma is a rare, slow-growing thymic mass with less than 50 cases published in the pediatric literature. 76 Treatment modalities include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy based on the Masaoka Staging System. En bloc surgical resection of the tumor, the thymus, and the surrounding mediastinal tissues is the mainstay treatment for low-stage thymomas.…”

“…Since the development of VATS for myasthenia gravis, 77 thoracoscopy is becoming the preferred approach for stage I and II thymomas with uneventful operative, postoperative courses and long-term follow-up. 76,78 Teratoma An anecdotal case report described the successful treatment of a huge thoracoabdominal teratoma with both laparoscopy and thoracoscopy in a newborn. 79…”

Perioperative echocardiography for invasive thymoma with intracardiac invasion in a child: a case report

“…Invasion of the pericardium is associated with a decreased survival rate. 1,2 Surgical removal is the main treatment for thymomas, and may be followed by chemo-radiotherapy. Stage 3 and 4 tumours may be irresectable and, chemo-radiation usually precedes resection.…”