Differbetween
Thymoma cells tend to grow very slowly, and it's rare for them to spread to other parts of the body. Thymic carcinoma cells, on the other hand, grow rapidly and tend to spread throughout the body. Indeed, by the time thymic carcinoma is diagnosed, there's a significant chance that it will have already metastasized.
- Is a thymoma a cancer?
- What is thymic cancer?
- What causes thymic carcinoma?
- Is thymic carcinoma rare?
- Can you die from thymoma?
- Can thymoma kill you?
- Where does thymic carcinoma spread to?
- Is thymic cancer curable?
- Is thymic carcinoma curable?
- Does a thymoma have to be removed?
- Can you live without a thymus?
- Where is the thymoma located?
Is a thymoma a cancer?
Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are diseases in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the thymus. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma, also called thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), are two types of rare cancers that can form in the cells that cover the outside surface of the thymus.
What is thymic cancer?
Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are diseases in which malignant (cancer) cells form on the outside surface of the thymus. The thymus, a small organ that lies in the upper chest under the breastbone, is part of the lymph system. It makes white blood cells, called lymphocytes, that protect the body against infections.
What causes thymic carcinoma?
No specific inherited, environmental, or lifestyle risk factors have been strongly linked to thymoma or thymic carcinoma. Some studies have suggested a possible link with exposure to radiation to the upper chest area, but this has not been confirmed. The only known risk factors are age and ethnicity.
Is thymic carcinoma rare?
Although thymic tumors are the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum (the front part of the chest cavity), overall they are rare. They occur at a rate of only 1.5 cases for every million people each year in the US. This works out to about 400 cases per year (the exact number diagnosed each year is not known).
Can you die from thymoma?
When thymoma is fatal, death is often caused by cardiorespiratory problems resulting from pericardial and pleural metastases. Encapsulated thymic tumours are usually asymptomatic. Patients with invasive tumours may develop symptoms from a mediastinal mass.
Can thymoma kill you?
In terms of the proper endpoint for these patients, I think that it is important to know that these patients do have decreased overall survival. And I think it is important to know that, yes, thymoma is likely not going to kill you, and it is encouraging to tell that to your patients.
Where does thymic carcinoma spread to?
Occasionally, it can spread to the lining of the lung, called the pleura. Less often, it can spread to other parts of the body. Thymic carcinoma (see Stages) also starts in the thymus. It is more likely to spread to the lining of the lungs and other parts of the body.
Is thymic cancer curable?
Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed.
...
5-year relative survival rates for thymus cancer.
| SEER Stage | 5-Year Relative Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| Distant | 40% |
| All SEER stages combined | 71% |
Is thymic carcinoma curable?
According to a Japanese nationwide database study, stage IVb thymic carcinoma patients showed a relatively favorable survival if they underwent R0 resection for locoregional nodal and pulmonary metastases, with 37% 10-year recurrence-free survival and 39% 10-year overall survival (5).
Does a thymoma have to be removed?
Thymomas are slow-growing tumors, and the prognosis is excellent when discovered in their early stages. Surgical removal (surgical resection) is the mainstay of treatment.
Can you live without a thymus?
A person without a thymus does not produce these T cells and, therefore, is at great risk for developing infections. By the time humans reach puberty, the thymus has completed most of its role in the body, shrinks in physical size and becomes dormant.
Where is the thymoma located?
Thymoma originates within the epithelial cells of the thymus, a lymphoid organ located in the anterior mediastinum. This organ is located behind the sternum in front of the great vessels; it reaches its maximum weight at puberty and undergoes involution thereafter.
