[Thymoma and thymoma-like tumors of the anterior mediastinum--therapeutic problems in observed patients].

In the last years, 11 patients with tumors of anterior mediastinum were treated at the Oncologic Centre in Lódź. Lymphocytic-epithelial thymoma was diagnosed in 6 patients whereas thymoma was suspected in 5 patients. Therapy was a problem mainly in these 5 patients, especially if lymphoma was considered in the differential diagnosis. The authors suggest that therapy should start with cytostatic agents in all patients with mediastinal tumors and morphology which not justifies thymoma diagnosis. Radiotherapy may follow in these cases in which 1-2 chemotherapy cycles failed.