After removal of thymoma. Thymus tumors

is a type of tumor thymus, the source of which is the elements of cells of the cortical and medulla layers.

Thymomas are often localized in the anterosuperior mediastinum. Thymomas can occur in people of any age, but adults are more susceptible than children. Tumors of the thymus gland are usually observed in people with myathenia in old age or mature age.

These tumors come in two categories: lymphoid and epithelioid thymomas. Numerous thymomas are classified as lymphoepitheliomas. Basically, thymomas consist of elements of adipose tissue and thymus particles, and are called lipothymoma, which has an asymptomatic course.

Thymomas are small in size and covered with a capsule, and are also benign. But benign thymoma has a conditional concept, since there are cases where infiltrative growth, the formation of metastases and the occurrence of relapses after their removal were noted. Thymomas that are benign in nature can reach large sizes without showing symptoms. But there are signs of pressure on the mediastinal organs, for example, facial cyanosis, shortness of breath, palpitations, swollen veins. Thymomas in children can lead to deformation chest– protrusion of the sternum.

The malignancy of thymoma manifests itself in twenty to thirty percent of cases, which is characterized by infiltrative growth, early and extensive metastasis. Malignant thymoma usually forms in nearby lymph nodes and rarely in distant organs.

With the histological type of tumor structure, one can see foci of necrosis and hemorrhage with further cyst formation (fibrosis).

Symptoms and signs of thymoma.

About half of thymomas do not show symptoms, but may show symptoms of compression of the mediastinal organs. Thymoma can be detected during a preventive X-ray examination.

The duration of the asymptomatic course largely depends on the size, location and nature of the tumor, on its growth rate and relationship with the formations and organs of the mediastinum.

Pain is observed with benign and malignant thymomas. The pain, as a rule, is moderate, occurs in the affected area, and can radiate to the interscapular region, shoulder and neck. The pain often occurs on the left side and is similar to the pain that occurs with angina pectoris. When pain appears in the bones, the presence of metastases can be suspected. When thymoma of the borderline sympathetic trunk grows and compresses, a syndrome appears, characterized by prolapse upper eyelid, disturbances in sweating, dilated pupils, changes in temperature of the affected area of ​​the body and dermographism.

If the return card is damaged laryngeal nerve Hoarseness occurs, and if the phrenic nerve is damaged, increased position of the diaphragm occurs. The cause of compression syndrome may be compression of large venous trunks. Manifestation of this syndrome is that there is a disruption of the outflow venous blood from the top of the body and head.

A patient with thymoma may experience heaviness and noise in the head, painful sensations in the chest area, swelling and cyanosis of the face, swelling of the veins in the chest and neck, as well as shortness of breath. Compression of the trachea and large bronchi can cause shortness of breath and cough. If the esophagus is compressed, dysphagia is formed and food passage is disrupted.

At the late stage of thymoma, the patient experiences body weakness, weight loss, fever and sweating. As a rule, these signs worry people suffering from a malignant form of thymoma.

In the case of arthralgic syndrome, patients experience swelling and pain in the joints, swelling of the soft tissues in the extremities, impaired heart rhythm and high frequency of its contractions.

Treatment of thymoma.

Treatment of thymoma is carried out using surgical intervention which needs to be done as early as possible. As a rule, thymoma spreads to tissues, which explains the removal of the thymus gland along with the tumor.

If found malignant tumor, the patient must be placed in a specialized oncology department to administer radiation and chemotherapy.

Human immunity is an important component of the quality of his life. It is the body’s defense system that fights the penetration and development of pathogenic bacteria and viruses and increases resistance to negative factors affecting humans. The system includes lymph and endocrine glands, spleen, blood lymphocytes, Bone marrow, Peyer's patches and the thymus gland. The disease of one of them, or several, can have quite serious consequences. Thymoma is one such disease that affects the thymus gland. Why is it dangerous, and what needs to be done for successful treatment?

The thymus gland, its functions and diseases

Muscle weakness is one of the symptoms

The thymus gland is located in upper area sternum, adjacent to the pulmonary trunk, aorta, and heart. Its importance is evidenced by the fact that it is the first organ in immune systems e, developing in the embryo - its formation begins already in the seventh week of fetal development. This organ owes its name to its shape - two lobes resemble a two-pronged fork, and these “teeth” are not always the same size, often one of them is larger than the other. The lobes of the organ may fit tightly together or be partially fused.

The gland consists of:

• connective tissue covering the organ;
• medulla.
• outer layer - bark.

In turn, epithelial and hematopoietic cells function in the cortical layer, producing hormones and elements responsible for the maturation of lymphocytes, the growth of T-lymphocytes and macrophages - cells that invade harmful organisms. So that excess T-lymph does not harm healthy cells, part of it “buries” the medulla of the thymus, the rest are sent to fight viruses and inflammatory processes.

Interesting! The thymus has an independent life cycle: The baby has a gland weighing about 15 grams that is bright pink in color. Having reached sexual maturity, it changes color to yellow and continues to grow until the age of 18, then it begins to slowly decrease in size and by old age only a shell of connective tissue remains.

In a child’s body, the thymus is responsible for immunity while other organs develop and grow, stimulating the production of defense, gradually transferring to them some of their functions. In the process, it generates hormones:

• thymosin – stimulates the growth of skeletal bones;
• Thymalin;
• thymopoietin;
• IGF-1.

Accordingly, disturbances in the functioning of the thymus gland cause a tendency to viral and bacterial diseases, deviations in the development of the musculoskeletal system at an early age.

What is a disease such as thymoma, and its pathogenesis

Neoplasms various quality on the thymus ( Latin name glands) received common name in Latin, thymoma is a generally accepted term introduced into medical practice at the very beginning of the century before last. It unites tumors of various origins and quality. Almost any organ cell can become the target of tumor attack, but mediastinal thymoma most often develops in the anterosuperior part of the gland. The disease most often progresses equally in men and women different ages, and only in 8% of cases affects children's bodies.

Thymoma of the thymus gland is divided by structure into lymphoid and epithelioid, having such subtypes as:

• epidermoid;
• spindle cell;
• lymphoepithelial;
• granulomatous.

In some cases, lipothymoma is diagnosed - an asymptomatic tumor that contains thymus particles and adipose tissue.

Important! The concept of benign thymoma is rather arbitrary. Often, histological diagnosis is not able to predict very real trends towards infiltration and metastases. Therefore, even after removal of such a tumor, relapses in the organs of this area are possible.

Moving to malignant stage, the neoplasm is characterized by active infiltrative growth, formation extensive metastases to lymph nodes and organs. Often, necrotic phenomena, foci of hemorrhage, cysts, and fibrous formations are present in tumor tissues.

The degree of complexity of lymphoepithelial thymoma, which is diagnosed in 10-14% of patients with a tumor of the thymus, is significantly higher. Well-differentiated cancer type B3 causes myasthenia gravis in half of the patients; treatment prognosis for this form is more pessimistic than for other forms of thymomas. Malignant thymoma has been described and has a code in ICD 10 ( International classification diseases 10th revision): C37.

The first signs and general symptoms of the disease

Experts note that about half of all cases of disease occur without noticeable symptoms. initial stages. There are no symptoms for any type of tumor, and this is often why the disease manages to turn into a malignant form (which happens in a third of cases) without “notifying” the sick person in a timely manner.

If we're talking about about a symptomatic course, then usually first the gland significantly increases in size, squeezing the organs surrounding it, and shortness of breath appears. If invasive thymoma affects the heart, tachycardia occurs, blood flow from the upper body worsens, the face swells, and signs of cyanosis appear. Children suffer from respiratory disorders, due to the fact that their trachea is more elastic and pliable. Half of patients diagnosed with thymoma have symptoms of a disease such as myasthenia gravis (muscle weakness). There have been cases where tumors are accompanied by such autoimmune diseases such as Cushing-Itsenko syndrome, agammaglobulinemia, aregenerative anemia.

After asymptomatic period, depending on the size and characteristics of the neoplasm, interaction with the mediastinal organs, tumor growth dynamics, the turn of quite pronounced manifestations of pathology begins. TO clinical signs tumors include:

• symptoms of tumor growth into nearby organs;
• general manifestations of the disease;
• specific signs characteristic of cancer.

The main symptoms of thymoma are:

• pain in the affected area, periodically radiating to the neck and shoulder, from compression internal organs or capture of nerve endings by metastases;
• cough;
• increased venous pressure;
• difficulty passing food through the esophagus;
• bone pain, enlarged joints, swelling of the limbs;
• drooping upper eyelid;
• dilation of the pupil and retraction of the eye on the affected side;
• sweating;
• dermographism (displacement of organs from their usual anatomical positions);
• compression of the nerve of the diaphragm and, as a consequence, the high position of its dome;
• functional disorders of the spinal cord;
• heaviness in the head, noises that increase when bending over;
• tension and increased volume of the neck veins.

Late stages of malignant thymoma are noted elevated temperature, decreased body weight, characteristic of malignant neoplasms, intoxication of the body is also noted. At the same time, left-sided localization of chest pain can be mistakenly diagnosed as angina attacks.

Establishing diagnosis

If you complain about the symptoms of the pathology, you should contact oncologists and endocrinologists; they are the ones who specialize in the treatment of thymus tumors. Formations identified in the early stages are small in size. Therefore, the most acceptable solution for examination for the prevention or detection of tumors is tomography of the chest area. Basic method for detecting thymoma anterior mediastinum– X-ray examinations. Contrast scanning of the esophagus also gives certain results.

Important! For timely diagnosis thymomas crucial have x-rays And instrumental methods. In particular, these methods are most effective for detecting the disease in its early stages.

Fluoroscopy clearly reveals the shadow of the pathology, determines the localization of the tumor, its shape, size, contours and other parameters, as well as the thymoma shows signs of benignity or malignancy, and perhaps a metastatic connection of the neoplasm with its neighboring organs is already observed.

X-ray clarifies the fluoroscopy data, clarifies the structure and localization of the darkened area, and contrast allows you to get a picture of the condition of the esophagus, including the degree of penetration of the tumor into it, as well as the extent to which the tumor displaces it and affects its functioning.

Small cell lymphatic thymoma is accompanied by an increase in supraclavicular lymph nodes, diagnosis in this case consists of a biopsy.

IN mandatory patients undergo blood biochemistry, since leukocytosis, lymphopenia, accelerated process erythrocyte sedimentation, anemia are confirmation systemic diseases And inflammatory processes occurring in the body. The most accurate results for diagnosing the quality of a tumor are provided by a biopsy.

Effective treatment of thymus disease

Unfortunately, regardless of whether the patient is diagnosed with malignant or benign tumor, the thymus gland should be surgically removed as soon as possible. At the first stage of the disease, treatment of a malignant tumor can be limited only surgical removal neoplasms.

By delaying the operation, the patient receives consequences that affect the heart, lungs, esophagus, large vessels who refuse to perform their functions. This fact is the answer to the question why thymoma is then inoperable - because it continues to grow invasively, affecting organs that are vital for a person. As a rule, in order to avoid relapse, not only the affected area is removed, but also the entire thymus gland and the surrounding fatty tissue. For more information, visit the Thymoma Thoracic Surgery Forum.

After the operation a series of rehabilitation measures. Patients who underwent surgery at stage 2 or 3, with confirmed histological studies malignancy of the removed tumor, are always referred for additional conduct chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Carefully! For elderly patients, it is preferable to undergo chemical and radiological treatment. According to experts, the risk of postoperative complications for older patients is too high, and judging by reviews, patients themselves tolerate such procedures more easily.

Successful treatment and positive prognosis Mediastinal thymoma is quite possible with timely application to specialists.

Attention! Remember that self-medication, as well as the use unconventional methods treatment can significantly worsen the problem and worsen your health. If herbal infusions help cure a mild cold, then in the fight against cancer it is necessary to rely on high-tech medicine and modern drugs.

The thymus gland, or as it is also called the thymus, is an organ that is one of the main components of the endocrine and lymphoid system. This organ is extremely important for human body, since it is also involved in the process of hematopoiesis, accordingly, we can conclude that the thymus is one of the most important organs of the immune system. Considering the importance of this organ, we can conclude that a tumor of the thymus gland is a very dangerous pathology which requires immediate and effective treatment.

Interesting! The thymus is considered the very first organ endocrine system, since it is formed at 6-7 weeks of fetal development. Moreover, it is this organ that takes part in protecting the fetus during its intrauterine development..

Any deviations in the functioning of the thymus can cause very serious consequences, especially often dysfunction of this organ is accompanied by significant reduction protective functions body. Naturally, disruption of the immune system is fraught with private diseases, since the body cannot fully resist viruses and bacteria. The thymus gland is also susceptible to cancer, and it is important to understand that malignant tumors in the thymus region can lead to serious consequences.

Tumors of the thymus occur relatively infrequently, moreover, in most cases they are benign. Malignant tumors account for only 5% of all thymus tumors. The exact cause of the development of this pathology could not be determined; very often neoplasms are associated with radiation exposure. In addition, the provocateur of the disease can be viral infections and autoimmune diseases. Regarding the cause and characteristics of development, several types of thymus tumors are distinguished.

For your information! Tumors of the thymus gland are considered predominantly age-related pathologies, since the average age of patients with this diagnosis is 45-50 years.

Seal classification

As already noted, neoplasms of this type can be benign or malignant. Although malignant nodules are rare, they are extremely dangerous. Moreover, a malignant tumor of the thymus gland can be different types In particular, the following types of seals are distinguished:

• adenocarcinoma;
• squamous;
• clear cell;
• carcinosarcoma;
• mucoepidermoid.

All types of seals differ in different indicators, in particular the form, characteristics of education, growth rates and more. If we talk about the most dangerous and aggressive tumor, then it is carcinosarcoma, but, be that as it may, all malignant tumors of the thymus gland are prone to rapid growth and early metastasis. According to the characteristics of the neoplasm, four stages of its development are distinguished:

1. The node develops within the organ and does not spread metastases.
2. The node grows into the organ capsule and adipose tissue, damage to the lymph nodes is observed.
3. The node begins to grow into neighboring organs, the lungs, trachea, larynx and large vessels can be affected.
4. Metastases affect distant organs, the lymph nodes of the chest are completely affected by the disease.

That is, we can conclude that malignant tumors of the thymus develop very rapidly, so it is extremely important to detect the disease on early stage, since efficiency depends on this further treatment and forecast.

Symptoms and diagnostic methods

Symptoms of a thymus tumor on initial stage may be completely absent, which makes this disease even more dangerous and difficult to cure. The first signs of pathology begin to appear only when the compaction reaches a sufficiently large size. Often this disease is accompanied by shortness of breath, suffocation, increased heart rate, intracranial pressure, difficulty swallowing and more. Such symptoms are due to the fact that during the growth process the tumor begins to compress neighboring organs; in addition to the above symptoms, this may be accompanied by swelling of the face, swelling of the neck veins, cough, sharp decline weight and general malaise. If any symptoms characteristic of such a disease appear, you must immediately contact a specialist for a full diagnosis.

Thymus tumors are diagnosed comprehensively, that is, using several methods at once. The main method for detecting a tumor is x-ray examination, it is precisely this kind of diagnosis that very often accidentally reveals pathology. Concerning computed tomography, then she can confirm the presence of a tumor only if it has reached 3 cm in diameter. Can also be used additional methods examinations such as tomography, fluoroscopy, examination of the esophagus and more. The final method for diagnosing lumps is a biopsy and laboratory blood tests.

Important! The treatment of this type of disease must be treated very responsibly, since it is very difficult to predict the consequences of such an illness; accordingly, neglect of therapy can cause irreparable consequences.

Therapy methods

Thymus gland tumor is treated exclusively complex method, as this allows you to achieve maximum results. Of course, the main method of treating seals of this type is surgical intervention, as it allows you to quickly and completely remove dangerous neoplasm. Naturally, the outcome of the operation depends on the stage at which it was performed; if the tumor has not yet begun to spread metastases, then the outcome of such treatment will be very favorable. If the pathological process involves lymph nodes, trachea or pericardium, then they are removed, if possible partially.

As auxiliary methods Radiotherapy can be used to treat this disease. This technique is also used when it is not possible to remove the tumor because it has begun to grow into large vessels or the heart. Chemotherapy is also used, as it can slow down the growth rate of the compaction, and it can also suppress cancer cells.

What is thymus cancer (thymus cancer)

Thymus cancer(thymic cancer) is a group of rare (less than 5% of thymic neoplasms) aggressive epithelial tumors, which are characterized by early locoregional and hematogenous metastasis. Average age patients 46 years old.

What causes thymus cancer (thymus cancer)

The causes of thymus cancer have not yet been studied.

Pathogenesis (what happens?) during thymus cancer (thymus cancer)

The group of thymus cancers includes tumors from epithelial cells that have lost signs of organ specificity. Almost all tumors grow rapidly, infiltrate surrounding organs, form implants in the pericardium and pleura, and rapidly metastasize.

The following types of thymus cancer are distinguished:
1) squamous cell carcinoma; lymphoepithelial-like cancer;
2) carcinosarcoma;
3) clear cell cancer;
4) mucoepidermoid cancer;
5) papillary adenocarcinoma of the thymus.

Symptoms of thymus cancer (thymus cancer)

Symptoms of thymus cancer absent in the early stages. When the tumor spreads to neighboring organs, respiratory disorders, difficulty in the outflow of blood from the superior vena cava and its tributaries (cyanosis, swelling of the face and upper limbs, increase intracranial pressure, headaches), disorder heart rate. With metastatic changes in bones, pronounced pain syndrome In the case of secondary tumor damage to the brain, focal neurological symptoms develop.

Malignant (atypical) thymoma type 1 makes up 20-25% of all epithelial thymic tumors. Its diameter usually does not exceed 4-5 cm, only occasionally it can reach large sizes. The tumor grows either as a single node or as multiple lobular nodes of gray-pink color, often without a clear capsule, but with various secondary changes. Its growth is invasive in nature, but does not extend beyond the organ. There are two histological variants of such thymoma: cortical thymoma and well-differentiated thymic carcinoma.

Cortical thymoma(syn.: thymoma with cortical cell differentiation, type B2 thymoma) can be built from dark cells, light cells or all possible combinations of them:
- dark-celled variety(syn.: small cell, spindle cell thymoma) is represented by chaotically located bundles of small spindle-shaped cells with a hyperchromic nucleus and scanty, often poorly distinguishable acidophilic cytoplasm; the formation of pericyte-like, glandular-like and rosette-like structures with accumulations of pink, homogeneous masses lying outside the cells is characteristic; this type must be differentiated from neuroendocrine tumors (apudoma), small cell cancer and metastatic lesions;
- clear cell variety built from layers or bundles formed by polygonal cells with light, often vacuolated cytoplasm and a vesicular nucleus; these cells are interconnected by cytoplasmic processes, forming a network in the cells of which lymphocytes are located; sometimes tumor cells have very light and even optically empty cytoplasm, this is the so-called watery cell thymoma, which should be differentiated from metastatic lesions.

Well-differentiated thymic carcinoma(syn.: atypical thymoma, thymoma type VZ) is built from layers or bundles of dark or light cells with increased proliferative activity and areas of nuclear, less often cellular, polymorphism, expressed mainly along the periphery of the neoplasm. Invasive growth is expressed in to a greater extent than with cortical thymoma, but does not extend beyond the thymus capsule. The possibility of metastasis of such tumors is being discussed. The prognosis depends on the severity of the invasion. The five-year survival rate of patients ranges from 80-90%.

Thymus cancer (malignant thymoma type 2) accounts for up to 5% of all observations of thymomas.

Cancerous thymus node can reach large sizes and is characterized by pronounced invasive growth. As with other tumors, the most important prognostic criterion is the stage of tumor invasion. There are six histological forms of thymic cancer: squamous cell (epidermoid), lymphoepithelial, spindle cell, undifferentiated (anaplastic), adenosquamous (mucoepidermoid), clear cell.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus- the most common form thymus cancer. In structure, it is similar to analogues of other localizations and sometimes has basal cell differentiation (basaloid cancer). It must be differentiated from metastatic lesions. Lymphoepithelial cancer (syn. lymphoepithelioma) - quite common tumor thymus. It is represented by complexes of squamous cell (usually non-keratinizing) or poorly differentiated cancer with pronounced to varying degrees lymphocytic infiltration stroma. Lymphocytes in in this case are not carriers of tumor properties. At large quantities lymphoid cells (especially immature forms) and a small amount of epithelial component, the tumor should be differentiated from lymphoma. Spindle cell carcinoma is rare. It usually includes a squamous cell component. In case of absence last tumor must be differentiated from sarcoma. Anaplastic cancer is very rare. It is characterized solid structures, built from very polymorphic cells. It should be differentiated from metastatic lesions. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma consists of two components: squamous cell and glandular mucus. In this case, it is necessary to exclude the metastatic nature of the neoplasm or the growth of adenocarcinoma into the thymus from neighboring organs (lung, trachea).

Classification. From existing classifications For practical purposes, the optimal distribution of all malignant thymic tumors is stage 4, proposed by Masaoka:
I - tumor within the thymus, surrounded on all sides by a well-defined capsule;
II - micro- or macroscopically determined tumor growth into the thymic capsule, fatty tissue mediastinum or mediastinal pleura;
III - germination into surrounding organs or other anatomical formations (lung, pericardium, large vessels);
IVa - dissemination along the pericardium or pleura and IVb - distant metastases.

Diagnosis of thymus cancer (thymus cancer)

Verification of thymus cancer is based on the use highly informative methods diagnostics, among which the main place belongs to computer and magnetic resonance imaging. To clarify the histological structure of the neoplasm, it is possible to perform mediastinoscopy using endovideo technology. Detection of thymic cancer metastases to other organs is possible using scintigraphy using tumor-targeting radiopharmaceuticals.

Treatment of thymus cancer (thymus cancer)

Treatment of thymus cancer, like other organ tumors, is surgical. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are used as an adjunct to surgery for common forms of the disease.

For tumors surrounded by a capsule (stage I), longitudinal sternotomy and complete removal thymus. It is important to preserve the integrity of the capsule, therefore it is advisable to remove the thymus with the surrounding tissue and fascia covering the surrounding anatomical formations (mediastinal pleura, vessels, etc.). This technique reduces the likelihood of leaving small ectopic areas of the thymus. With such a spread of the tumor, its recurrence is a casuistry, and in this regard, additional radiation treatment deemed inappropriate. Five-year survival rate is 90-95%.

Postoperative radiation therapy is indicated in patients with invasive thymoma growth, especially with damage to large vessels and the pericardium. Local relapses were noted at various times after surgery in 25-30% of patients. Radiation therapy with a total focal dose of 50 Gy in the mode of conventional dose fractionation on the tumor “bed” and supraclavicular areas reduces the risk of local recurrence by 5-6 times.

Radiation therapy as an independent treatment option is indicated in patients with locally advanced thymoma and damage to the aortic arch or myocardium, when its removal is impossible. The five-year survival rate is only 45-50%.

Chemotherapy for generalized forms of thymomas is based on regimens that include platinum drugs. The most common polychemotherapy regimen is as follows: cisplatin - 50 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, doxorubicin - 40 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1, vincristine - 0.6 mg/m2 intravenously on day 3 and cyclophosphamide - 700 mg/m2 intravenously on the 4th day of the cycle. Treatment courses are repeated every 3 weeks. There are 6 courses in total.

If there are reasonable doubts about the possibility radical removal tumors, due to possible growth into large vessels of the mediastinum or the heart, it is advisable to use induction chemotherapy to reduce the size of the tumor and create optimal conditions for surgery.

The prognosis for thymus cancer is worse compared to thymoma. Three- and five-year survival rates after chemotherapy and radiation therapy are 40 and 33%, respectively.

Which doctors should you contact if you have thymus cancer (thymus cancer)

Oncologist
Endocrinologist

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Thymus gland – important organ endocrine and immune systems involved in the process of hematopoiesis.

Any deviations in work of this body very threatening to a person unpleasant consequences. One of the pathologies to which the thymus is susceptible is the formation of a tumor.

Tumors of the thymus gland are relatively rare; in most cases, the neoplasm is benign. However, this does not mean that pathology does not need adequate and timely treatment.

Despite the fact that the occurrence of a malignant tumor in the area of ​​the thymus gland is a very rare phenomenon, this pathology considered very dangerous. This is due to the fact that malignant tumors tend to grow rapidly and form metastases.

There are several types malignant tumors in the area of ​​the thymus gland:

• Adenocarcinoma.
• Squamous cell tumor.
• Clear cell tumor.
• Carcinosarcoma.
• Mucoepidermoid compaction.

Each of the listed types differs from the others in shape, characteristic features development and course, growth rate and rate of formation of metastases.

Carcinosarcoma is considered the most aggressive form, however, other types of malignant tumors can lead to disastrous results.

The success of treatment of a thymus tumor (thymoma) largely depends on the stage of development at which the pathology was detected.

There are 4 stages:

1. The compaction is small in size, located directly within the thymus, and does not metastasize.
2. The tumor grows, affecting adjacent fatty tissues and lymph nodes.
3. The tumor increases in size and now affects neighboring organs, such as the larynx, lungs, and trachea. Large vessels are also affected.
4. At this stage, a process of metastasis is observed, distantly located organs are affected, as well as lymph nodes located in the chest area.

Causes

Unfortunately, the factors that provoke the development of thymoma have not been established, however, scientists believe that the cause of thymus tumors can be considered the presence of autoimmune diseases.

Thus, many patients who had a tumor were previously diagnosed with myasthenia gravis (an autoimmune disease).

Other causes of thymus tumors include diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus. People suffering from severe anemia are also at risk.

Indirect causes that can lead to pathology include:

• Hormonal imbalances.
• Diabetes mellitus, obesity.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Wrong lifestyle.
• Disturbances of the endocrine system.
• Frequent depression.

After 25 years, the thymus ceases to function in most people, but this does not mean that pathologies of this organ are impossible. In this article we will talk about diseases of the thymus gland in adults.

Symptoms

The early stages of the disease are almost always asymptomatic, which significantly complicates the diagnosis of pathology at an early stage of its development. Typically, a lump is detected using x-rays during a routine examination.

In the later stages, when the size of the tumor becomes significant, the patient complains of the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath, difficulty breathing (an enlarged tumor compresses the organs of the respiratory system).
• Cardiac arrhythmia.
• A sharp and, at first glance, causeless increase in intracranial pressure.
• Swelling of the face and neck area.
• Dry cough.
• Insomnia.

As the pathology develops, the symptoms mentioned above are joined by signs common to malignant neoplasms in other organs.

This is a general deterioration in health, weakness, fast fatiguability, lack of appetite, weight loss, low temperature that lasts for a long time.

Diagnostics

The main task of the doctor is to identify a thymic tumor at an early stage, and it is necessary not only to determine the presence of a neoplasm, but also to find out its size, location, and type. That's why diagnostic measures are complex in nature.

Such measures include:

1. X-ray (allows you to detect pathology at an early stage).
2. Tomography (recognizes a compaction if its size exceeds 3 cm.)
3. Studies of the esophagus (used if the disease is already in the stage of metastasis).
4. Blood tests (general, tumor markers).
5. Biopsy lymph nodes upon their defeat.

Treatment of thymus tumors

In most cases, provided there are no metastases, it is more preferable surgery thymomas. The operation is performed by resection of the lung or the adjacent vena cava, followed by their restoration.

Locally - an advanced stage of the tumor is treated in the same way surgical operation. To do this, a transverse incision is made that cuts through the sternum.

In some cases, after surgery, the patient is prescribed radiotherapy (for example, if large blood vessels have been damaged).

As an independent method of treatment, radiotherapy is used in cases where the formation has affected the heart and the vessels closest to it.

If the disease is advanced and metastases occur, the patient is prescribed chemotherapy. Thymoma is sensitive to the effects chemicals. The most popular chemotherapy drugs are those whose main component is platinum.

When is chemotherapy prescribed?

1. The patient has numerous metastases.
2. Surgical treatment did not give a lasting result and the tumor reappeared.

The prognosis for treatment of a thymus tumor is quite optimistic; recovery occurs in 60-90% of patients. Certainly, positive result largely depends on the timeliness of the treatment used.

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