Lucchi M, Mussi A, Ambrogi M, Gunfiotti A, Fontanini G, Basolo F, Angeletti C A
Cardiac and Thoracic Department, Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, Pisa 56124, Italy.
Eur J Surg Oncol. 2001 Nov;27(7):636-40. doi: 10.1053/ejso.2001.1197.
Thymic carcinoma is a rare thymic neoplasm. It is more invasive and has a poorer prognosis than thymoma. We report our experience in the treatment of 13 thymic carcinomas.
Thirteen patients with histologically confirmed thymic carcinoma were treated from June 1989. Six patients underwent surgery, followed by adjuvant therapy. Seven patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, followed by surgery and post-operative radiotherapy.
The diagnosis of thymic carcinoma was achieved in six cases by a mediastinotomy, in three cases by a ultrasound-guided or a CT-guided fine needle aspiration and in three cases the pre-operative diagnosis was thymoma. In one case we did not have the histological diagnosis. All seven patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy responded. The surgical resection was complete in seven cases. Eight patients are still alive 8-142 months from the diagnosis, and six are disease-free.
Our experience supports the role of surgery and post-operative radiotherapy in thymic carcinomas. Pre-operative treatment of such neoplasms by multi-drug chemotherapy may improve the resectability and the survival rate.
胸腺癌是一种罕见的胸腺肿瘤。它比胸腺瘤更具侵袭性，预后更差。我们报告我们治疗13例胸腺癌的经验。
自1989年6月起，对13例经组织学确诊的胸腺癌患者进行了治疗。6例患者接受了手术，随后进行辅助治疗。7例患者接受了新辅助化疗，随后进行手术及术后放疗。
6例通过纵隔切开术确诊为胸腺癌，3例通过超声引导或CT引导下细针穿刺确诊，3例术前诊断为胸腺瘤。1例未获得组织学诊断。所有7例接受新辅助化疗的患者均有反应。7例手术切除完整。8例患者自确诊后8至142个月仍存活，6例无疾病。
我们的经验支持手术及术后放疗在胸腺癌治疗中的作用。通过多药化疗对这类肿瘤进行术前治疗可能会提高切除率和生存率。
