Background

Condition Lookup

Sub-Category:

Mediastinal Tumors

Number of Conditions: 1

Thymomas

Specialty: Pulmonology

Category: Neoplastic Conditions

Sub-category: Mediastinal Tumors

Symptoms:
chest pain; persistent cough; shortness of breath; hoarseness; fatigue; weight loss; muscle weakness (in cases of associated myasthenia gravis)

Root Cause:
A tumor arising from the epithelial cells of the thymus gland, typically located in the anterior mediastinum.

How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis involves imaging studies such as chest X-rays, CT scans, or MRI, along with biopsy (needle biopsy or surgical biopsy) to confirm histology. Blood tests may be used to check for associated autoimmune conditions.

Treatment:
Treatment typically involves surgical removal of the tumor (thymectomy), with or without adjuvant radiation therapy or chemotherapy depending on the stage of the disease.

Medications:
Chemotherapy agents like cisplatin (a platinum-based chemotherapy) or cyclophosphamide (an alkylating agent) may be used for advanced or unresectable cases. Immunosuppressive medications like prednisone or mycophenolate mofetil may also be prescribed if associated with autoimmune complications.

Prevalence: How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare, accounting for approximately 0.2-1.5% of all malignancies; thymomas are more common in adults, particularly in their 40s to 60s.

Risk Factors: Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Associated with autoimmune diseases such as myasthenia gravis, red cell aplasia, and hypogammaglobulinemia. No strong environmental or genetic risk factors have been identified.

Prognosis: The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Generally good if detected early and completely resected. Advanced stages may have a poorer prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of approximately 50-90%, depending on stage and treatment.

Complications: Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Potential complications include metastasis, recurrence, superior vena cava syndrome, and autoimmune disorders such as myasthenia gravis, red cell aplasia, or systemic lupus erythematosus.