[A case of non-resectable thymoma which responded to the administration of adriamycin, vindesine and 5-FU].

Surgery and radiotherapy have been considered to be the primary therapies for malignant thymoma. However, the results of these therapies for invasive thymoma are poor. Recently, combination chemotherapy for invasive thymoma has been tried and good results have been reported. A 50-year-old female was admitted to our hospital. Her chest film showed a large anterior mediastinal tumor which was diagnosed as invasive thymoma. In order to remove the tumor, median sternotomy and 4th intercostal thoracotomy was done but the mass was found to have invaded to the adjacent tissues, and so only partial resection of the tumor was performed. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with Adriamycin, Vindesine and 5-FU, as a result of which the mass completely disappeared and CR was achieved. Our regimen, AVF, for non-resectable thymoma is therefore thought to be a potentially effective treatment.