Thymomas: Review of Current Clinical Practice

Abstract

Thymomas are the most common tumors of the mediastinum.

18F-FDG PET/CT is Useful for Pretreatment Assessment of the Histopathologic Type of Thymic Epithelial Tumors

“…Furthermore, type A and AB thymomas were shown to be less frequently associated with myasthenia gravis than tumors of type B [8]. Whenever possible, more-invasive thymomas and invasive carcinomas should be completely resected, as ectopic thymic tissue may have a negative impact on local control and survival [9,10]. In contrast, less-invasive thymomas may be excised using VATS technology, which combines minimal invasiveness and an acceptable extent of resection [2,11].…”

“…Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy can differentiate among mediastinal lesions and can be used to diagnose or classify thymomas histopathologically [12][13][14]. FNA, however, carries risks of needle track seeding of malignant cells; moreover, the small tissue volumes obtained may make histologic differentiation between thymomas and other anterior mediastinal masses difficult [10]. If a needle biopsy is not possible or is non-diagnostic, several invasive surgical methods can be utilized for further diagnostic evaluation [1].…”

Management of large mediastinal masses: surgical and anesthesiological considerations

“…Various methods are available (35), depending on the location of the mass, including TTE approaches with image-guidance by CT (36) or ultrasound, guidance by endobronchial (37) and transesophageal ultrasound, or surgical methods including mediastinoscopy and mediastinostomy. However, the role of obtaining tissue diagnosis in the evaluation of mediastinal masses remains to be controversial due to the fear of tumor cell seeding in the biopsy tract, especially when thymic neoplasms are likely (38,39). As proposed by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Guidelines on thymic malignancies (39), surgical biopsy should be avoided if a resectable thymoma is strongly suspected based on clinical and radiologic features.…”

Subxiphoid single incision thoracoscopic surgery approach for thymectomy: a case report

“…Surgical thymectomy with complete resection of thymoma remains the gold standard in the management of these patients, which has good long term survival and recurrence rates when complete en-bloc resection is achieved (1,2).…”