A meta-analysis of surgical versus nonsurgical management of recurrent thymoma

Ann Thorac Surg. 2014 Aug;98(2):748-55. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2014.04.028. Epub 2014 Jun 28.

Abstract

This meta-analysis was designed to determine the effect of surgical and nonsurgical approaches on 5-year and 10-year overall survival (OS) in patients with recurrent thymoma. PubMed, Scopus, and the Journal of Japanese Association for Chest Surgery were queried, and 11 studies were eligible. Our meta-analysis using a random-effect model revealed significant differences in the rates of 5- and 10-year OS after thymectomy and in 5-year OS after recurrence, favoring surgically managed patients. Surgical resection may be associated with improved long-term survival and should be considered for patients with recurrent thymoma.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Checklist
  • Humans
  • Survival Rate
  • Thymectomy
  • Thymoma / mortality
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thymoma / therapy*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / mortality
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thymus Neoplasms / therapy*