Abstract
Background:
Curative treatment of malignant thymoma is resection; however, this may be precluded by invasion of vital organs.
Patients and methods:
Two patients with extensive intrathoracic spread of thymoma (Stages III and IV A) are presented. Treatment involved a combination of resection, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Results:
One patient survived 9 years, 4 months, but eventually died of metastatic spread; the other one is well and without evidence of disease 30 months after treatment.
Conclusions:
Thymoma is a slow-growing tumor. Successful surgical treatment in advanced cases is possible, if aided by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. The adjuvant therapy converts a non-resectable tumor to a resectable one.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Adult
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Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / therapeutic use
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
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Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
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Cisplatin / administration & dosage
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Cisplatin / therapeutic use
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Cobalt Radioisotopes / therapeutic use
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Combined Modality Therapy
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Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
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Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
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Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
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Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
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Female
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Follow-Up Studies
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Humans
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Male
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Pulmonary Artery*
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Radiography, Thoracic
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Radiotherapy Dosage
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Thymoma / drug therapy
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Thymoma / mortality
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Thymoma / radiotherapy
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Thymoma / surgery
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Thymoma / therapy*
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Thymus Neoplasms / drug therapy
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Thymus Neoplasms / mortality
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Thymus Neoplasms / radiotherapy
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Thymus Neoplasms / surgery
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Thymus Neoplasms / therapy*
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Time Factors
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Vascular Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
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Vincristine / therapeutic use
Substances
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Antineoplastic Agents
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Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
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Cobalt Radioisotopes
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Vincristine
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Doxorubicin
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Cyclophosphamide
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Cisplatin