Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Postoperative Evolution and Prognosis of Thymic Tumors

  • Chapter
Book cover Surgery of the Thymus

  • 108 Accesses

Abstract

Thymomas are relatively rare but, in adults, they are the commonest tumors of the anterosuperior mediastinum where they represent 29%–47% of all neoplasms (Rubush et al. 1973; Mullen and Richardson 1986). However, these tumors are far less frequently seen in children (Mullen and Richardson 1986), and most cases are actually misdiagnosed lymphoblastic lymphomas of the thymus (Rosai 1981). True thymomas in children tend to be aggressive lesions with a poor prognosis (ibid).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Addis BJ, Isaacson PG (1986) Large cell lymphoma of the mediastinum: a B-cell tumor of probable thymic origin. Histopathology 10: 379–390

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Allum WH, Watson DCT (1983) Recurrent thymoma with myasthenia gravis. Br Med J 286: 440

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Appelqvist P, Kostiainen S, Franssila K, Mattila S, Groehn P (1982): Treatment and prognosis of thymoma: a review of 25 cases. J Surg Oncol 20: 265–268

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Argubright KF, Mattox JH, Messer RH (1984): Thymoma in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol Surv 39: 185–191

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arriagada R, Gerard-Marchant R, Tubiana M, Amiel JL, Hajj L (1981): Radiation therapy in the management of malignant thymic tumors. Acta Radiol [Oncol] 20: 167–172

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aygun C, Slawson RG, Bajaj K, Salazar OM (1984): Primary mediastinal seminoma. Urology 23: 109–117

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barnes RDS, O’Gorman (1962): Two cases of aplastic anaemia associated with tumors of the thymus. J Clin Pathol 15: 264–268

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benton C, Gerard P (1966): Thymolipoma in a patient with Graves’ disease. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 51: 428–433

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bergh NP, Gatzinsky P, Larsson S, Lundin P, Ridell B (1978): Tumors of the thymus and thymic region. II. Clinicopathological studies on Hodgkin’s disease of the thymus. Ann Thorac Surg 25: 99–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Bernatz PE, Khonsari S, Harrison EG, Taylor WF (1973): Thymoma: factors influencing prognosis. Surg Clin North Am 53: 885–892

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boumghar M, Saegesser F (1982): Tumeurs granulomateuses prétendues pseudo-Hodgkiniennes de la loge thymique (lymphogranulosarcomes thymiques). Ann Chir Thorac Cardiovasc 36: 134–136

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chahinian AP, Bhardwaj S, Meyer RJ, Jaffrey IS, Kirschner PA, Holland JF (1981): Treatment of invasive or metastatic thymoma: report of 11 cases. Cancer 47: 1752–1761

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen DJ, Ronnigen LD, Graeber GM, Deshong JL, Jaffin J, Burge JR, Zajchuk R (1984): Management of patients with malignant thymoma. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 87: 301–307

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Colby TV, Hoppe RT, Warnke RA (1982) Hodgkin’s disease: a clinicopathologic study of 659 cases. Cancer 49: 1848–1858

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Denayer M-A, Rao KR, Wirz D, McNally D (1986) Hepatic metastatic thymoma and myasthenia gravis 22 years after the apparent cure of an invasive thymoma: a case report and review of the literature. J Neurol Sci 76: 23–30

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Einhorn LH (1985): Cancer of the testis: a new paradigm. HospPract [Off] 21: 165–178

    Google Scholar 

  • Engel FL, Kahana L (1963) Cushing’s syndrome with malignant corticotropin-producing tumor: remission and relapse following subtotal adrenalectomy and tumor resection. Am J Med 34: 726–734

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fechner RE (1969) Recurrence of noninvasive thymomas: report of 4 cases and review of literature. Cancer 23: 1423–1427

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fujimura S, Kondo T, Handa M, Shiraishi Y, Tamahashi N, Nakada T (1987) Results of surgical treatment for thymoma based on 66 patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 93: 708–714

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gooneratne S, Keh P, Sreekanth S, Recant W, Talerman A (1985) Anterior mediastinal endodermal sinus (yolk sac) tumor in a female infant. Cancer 56: 1430–1433

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gray GF, Gutowski WT III (1979) Thymoma: a clinicopathological study of 54 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 3: 235–249

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Guillan RA, Zelman S, Smalley RL, Iglesias PA (1971) Malignant thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis, and evidence of extrathoracic metastases: an analysis of published cases and report of a case. Cancer 27: 823–830

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Havlicek F, Rosai J (1984) A sarcoma of thymic stroma with features of liposarcoma. Am J Clin Pathol 82: 217–224

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hu E, Levine J (1986) Chemotherapy of malignant thymoma: case report and review of the literature. Cancer 57: 1101–1104

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchison GB (1984): Radiotherapy of stage I and II Hodgkin’s disease: a collaborative study. Cancer 54: 1928–1942

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jose B, Yu AT, Morgan TF, Glicksman AS (1980) Malignant thymoma with extrathoracic metastasis: a case report and review of literature. J Surg Onol 15: 259–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kay PH, Wells FC, Goldstraw P (1987) A multidisciplinary approach to primary nonseminomatous germ cell tumors of the mediastinum. Ann Thorac Surg 44: 578–582

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Keller AR, Castleman B (1974) Hodgkin’s disease of the thymus gland. Cancer 33: 1615–1623

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Knapp RH, Hurt RD, Payne WS, Farrow GM, Lewis BD, Hahn RG, Muhm JR, Earle JD (1985) Malignant germ cell tumors of the mediastinum. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 89: 82–89

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Korhonen LK, Laustela E (1968) Thymolipoma: report of a case. Scand J Throac Cardiovasc Surg 2: 147–150

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kuzur ME, Cobleigh MA, Greco A, Einhorn LH, Oldham RK (1982) Endodermal sinus tumor of the mediastinum. Cancer 50: 766–774

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Le Brigand H, Verley JM, Gharbi N (1979) Tumeurs du thymus, vol 2. Encycl Med Chir, poumon, Sect. 6047 D10

    Google Scholar 

  • Le Brigand H, Levasseur P, Miranda AR, Gaud C, Woja- kowski I (1980) Résultats du traitement chirurgical de la myasthenie (284 cas de thymectomies). Ann Chir 34: 169–172

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee YM, Jackson SM (1985) Primary seminoma of the mediastinum: Cancer Control Agency of British Columbia experience. Cancer 55: 450–452

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis BD, Hurt RD, Payne S, Farrow GM, Knapp RH, Muhm JR (1983) Benign teratomas of the mediastinum. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 86: 727–731

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis JE, Wick MR, Scheithauer BW, Bernatz PE, Taylor WF (1987) Thymoma: a clinicopathologic review. Cancer 60: 2727–2743

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maggi G, Giaccone G, Donadio M, Ciuffreda L, Dalesio O, Leria G, Trifiletti G, Casadio C, Palestro G, Mancuso M, Calciati A (1986) Thymomas: a review of 169 cases, with particular reference to results of surgical treatment. Cancer 58: 765–776

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Manivel C, Wick MR, Abenoza P, Rosai J (1986) The occurrence of sarcomatous componants in primary mediastinal germ cell tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 10: 711–717

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Masaoka A, Monden Y, Nakahara K, Tanioka T (1981) Follow-up study of thymomas with special reference to their clinical stages. Cancer 48: 2485–2492

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mauch P, Hellman S (1984) Mediastinal Hodgkin’s disease: significance of mediastinal involvement in early stage Hodgkin’s disease. Hematol Oncol 2: 69–72

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Menestrina F, Chilosi M, Bonetti F, Lestani M, Scarpa A, Novelli P, Doglioni C, Todeschini G, Ambrosetti A, Fiore- Donati L (1986) Mediastinal large-cell lymphoma of B- type, with sclerosis: histopathological and immunohisto- chemical study of 8 cases. Histopathology 10: 589–600

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Miller JB, Variakojis D, Bitran JD, Sweet DL, Kinzie JJ, Go- lomb HM, Ultmann JE (1981) Diffuse hystiocytic lymphoma with sclerosis: a clinicopathologic entity frequently causing superior venacaval obstruction. Cancer 47: 748–756

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Monden Y, Nakahara K, Kagotani K, Fujii Y, Masaoka A, Kawashima Y (1984) Myasthenia gravis with thymoma: analysis of and postoperative prognosis for 65 patients with thymomatous myasthenia gravis. Ann Thorac Surg 38: 46–52

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mulder DG, Herrmann C, Keesey J, Edwards H (1983) Thymectomy for myasthenia gravis. Am J Surg 146: 61–66

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mullen B, Richardson JD (1986) Primary anterior mediastinal tumors in children and adults. Ann Thorac Surg 42: 338–345

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nakahara K, Ohno K, Hashimoto J, Maeda H, Miyoshi S, Sakurai M, Monden Y, Kawashima Y (1988) Thymoma: results with complete resection and adjuvant postoperative irradiation in 141 consecutive patients. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 95: 1041–1047

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Namba T, Brunner NG, Grob D (1978) Myasthenia gravis in patients with thymoma, with particular reference to onset after thymectomy. Medicine 57: 411–433

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nomori H, Horinouchi H, Kaseda S, Ishihara T, Torikata C (1988) Evaluation of the malignant grade of thymoma by morphometric analysis. Cancer 61: 982–988

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • North LB, Fuller LM, Sullivan-Halley JA, Hagemeister FB (1987) Regression of mediastinal Hodgkin’s disease after therapy: evaluation of time interval. Radiology 164: 599–602

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Otto HF, Loening TH, Lachenmayer L, Janzen RWC, Guert- ler KF, Fischer K (1982) Thymolipoma in association with myasthenia gravis. Cancer 50: 1623–1628

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Papatestas AE, Genkins G, Kornfeld P, Eisenkraft JB, Fa- gerstrom RP, Pozner J, Aufses AH (1987 a) Effects of thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. Ann Surg 206: 79–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Papatestas AE, Pozner J, Genkins G, Kornfeld P, Matta RJ (1987 b) Prognosis in occult thymomas in myasthenia gravis following transcervical thymectomy. Arch Surg 122: 1352–1356

    Google Scholar 

  • Perrone T, Frizzerà G, Rosai J (1986) Mediastinal diffuse large-cell lymphoma with sclerosis: a clinicopathologic study of 60 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 10: 176–191

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raghavan D, Barrett A (1980) Mediastinal seminomas. Cancer 46: 1187–1191

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reintgen D, Fetter BF, Roses A, McCarty KS (1978) Thymolipoma in association with myasthenia gravis. Arch Pathol Lab Med 102: 463–466

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ridell B, Larsson S (1980) Coexistence of a thymoma and Hodgkin’s disease of the thymus: a case report. Acta Pathol Microbiol Scand [A] 88: 1–4

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosai J (1981) Thymic tumors and tumor-like conditions. In: Ackerman’s surgical pathology, vol 1, 6th edn. Mosby, St. Louis, p 311

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosai J, Higa E (1972) Mediastinal endocrine neoplasm, of probable thymic origin, related to carcinoid tumor: clinicopathologic study of 8 cases. Cancer 29: 1061–1074

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosai J, Levine GD (1976) Tumors of the thymus. In: Atlas of tumor pathology, fase 13, ser 2. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington DC

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosai J, Levine GD, Weber WR, Higa E (1976) Carcinoid tumors and oat cell carcinomas of the thymus. Pathol Annu 11: 201–226

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg M, Jauregui WO, Herrera MR, Roncoroni AJ, Rojas OR, Olmedo GSM (1986) Recurrence of thymic hyperplasia after trans-sternal thymectomy in myasthenia gravis. Chest 89: 888–889

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenow EC, Hurley BT (1984) Disorders of the thymus: a review. Arch Intern Med 144: 763–770

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rubush JL, Gardner IR, Boyd WC, Ehrenhaft JL (1973): Mediastinal tumors: review of 186 cases. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 65: 216–222

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Saegesser F, Zoupanos G (1970) Thymolipomes. Schweiz Med Wochenschr 15: 657–662

    Google Scholar 

  • Salyer WR, Eggleston JC (1976) Thymoma: a clinical and pathological study of 65 cases. Cancer 37: 229–249

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shamji F, Pearson FG, Todd TRJ, Ginsberg RJ, lives R, Cooper JD (1984) Results of surgical treatment for thymoma. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 87: 43–47

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Shimosato Y, Kameya T, Nagai K, Suemasu K (1977) Squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus. An analysis of 8 cases. Am J Surg Pathol 1: 109–121

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Snover DC, Levine GD, Rosai J (1982) Thymic carcinoma: five distinctive histological variants. Am J Surg Pathol 6: 451–470

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thomas CV, Manivel JC (1987) Thymic carcinoma and aplastic anemia: report of a previously undocumented association. Am J Hematol 25: 333–335

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Trump DL, Mann RB (1982) Diffuse large cell and undifferentiated lymphomas with prominent mediastinal involvement: a poor prognostic subset of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Cancer 50: 277–282

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Truong LD, Harris L, Mattioli C, Hawkins E, Lee A, Wheeler T, Lane M (1986) Endodermal sinus tumor of the mediastinum: a report of 7 cases and review of the literature. Cancer 58: 730–739

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Uematsu M, Kondo M (1986) A proposal for treatment of invasive thymoma. Cancer 58: 1979–1984

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ulbright TM, Loehrer PJ, Roth LM, Einhorn LH, Williams SD, Clark SA (1984) The development of non-germ cell malignancies within germ cell tumors: a clinicopathologic study of 11 cases. Cancer 54: 1824–1833

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Verley JM, Hollmann KH (1985) Thymoma: a comparative study of clinical stages, histologic features, and survival in 200 cases. Cancer 55: 1074–1086

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vogelzang NJ, Raghaven D, Anderson RW, Rosai J, Levitt SH, Kennedy BJ (1982) Mediastinal nonseminomatous germ cell tumors: the role of combined modality therapy. Ann Thorac Surg 33: 333–339

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Waldron JA, Farber LL, Cadman E (1984) Primary large cell lymphomas of the mediastinum: an analysis of 18 cases. Lab Invest 50: 64 A

    Google Scholar 

  • Wick MR, Scheithauer BW (1982) Oat-cell carcinoma of the thymus. Cancer 49: 1652–1657

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wick MR, Scott RE, Li C-Y, Carney JA (1980) Carcinoid tumor of the thymus: a clinicopathologic report of 7 cases with a review of the literature. Mayo Clin Proc 55: 246–254

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wick MR, Carney JA, Bernatz PE, Brown LR (1982a) Primary mediastinal carcinoid tumors. Am J Surg Pathol 6: 195–205

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wick MR, Scheithauer BW, Weiland LH, Bernatz PE (1982b) Primary thymic carcinomas. Am J Surg Pathol 6: 613–630

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkins EW, Castleman B (1979) Thymoma: a continuing survey at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Ann Thorac Surg 28: 252–256

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wychulis AR, Payne WS, Clagett OT, Woolner LB (1971) Surgical treatment of mediastinal tumors: a 40 year experience. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 62: 379–392

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Mohamed Boumghar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Michael Dusmet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Jean-Claude Givel

  2. Service de Chirurgie A, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland

    Marco Merlini  & Michael Dusmet  & 

  3. Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TH, UK

    David B. Clarke MB FRCS

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1990 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Boumghar, M., Dusmet, M. (1990). Postoperative Evolution and Prognosis of Thymic Tumors. In: Givel, JC., Merlini, M., Clarke, D.B., Dusmet, M. (eds) Surgery of the Thymus. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71076-6_31

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-71076-6_31

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-71078-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-71076-6

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation