Single Centre Experience in the Management of Thymic Tumours

Background: Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are relatively rare tumours of the anterior mediastinum. Optimum treatment options for these tumours remain unresolved, although at present, a multimodality approach involving aggressive surgical resection, platinum-based combination chemotherapeutic interventions and radiotherapy represents the preferred therapeutic approach. ۱-۳ This study evaluates the treatment outcome of patients with thymic tumours at our centre.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed clinical case notes, electronic patient records, imaging and radiation treatment records of patients treated at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.Results: A total of ۲۱ patients diagnosed with thymic tumours were treated at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre between June ۱۹۹۰ until June ۲۰۱۱. There were ۱۲ (۵۷%) out of ۲۱ patients who received multimodality therapy (chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and/or surgery), ۷ (۳۴%) received single modality treatment and ۲ (۹%) did not receive any treatment. Relapse occurred in ۱۰ (۴۷%) patients with a median time from primary diagnosis to relapse of ۲۸ months (۱۰ to ۱۰۴ months). Among those who relapsed, ۶ died with a median survival of ۵۸ months (۵۳ to ۶۴ months). Out of ۱۲ patients in the multimodality treatment group, ۹ (۷۵%) remain alive with a median follow up of ۴۵ months. In ۷ patients who received single mode therapy, ۵ (۷۱%) died with a median survival of ۴۵ months. ۲ patients who did not receive any treatment died. Overall median survival in ۱۰ of ۲۱ patients who died was ۴۲ months (۲ to ۱۹۲ months).Conclusion: Multimodality treatment for thymic tumours represents the preferred therapeutic approach and should be considered in suitable patients. Further randomized trials are necessary to define the optimum treatment options.