Is a thymoma considered cancer?
Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are diseases in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the thymus. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma, also called thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), are two types of rare cancers that can form in the cells that cover the outside surface of the thymus.
What are the stages of thymoma?
Thymoma and Thymic Cancer Staging
| 1 Stage 1 thymoma (I) | 1 Completely encapsulated tumor, without tumor invasion into the capsule |
|---|---|
| 1 Stage 3 thymoma (III) | 1 Tumor invasion into organs surrounding the thymus |
| 1 Stage 4A thymoma (IVA) | 1 Tumor implants in the pleura or pericardium (the linings of the lungs or heart) |
Is thymoma a type of lymphoma?
Thymic epithelial cells line the thymus. This is where thymoma and thymic carcinoma start. Lymphocytes. If lymphocytes become cancerous, they can develop into a type of cancer called lymphoma.
How serious is a thymoma?
Generally, thymoma is less serious than thymic carcinoma. It’s also easier to treat. With thymoma, the tumor cells don’t look much different than the regular (non-cancerous) thymus cells. They grow slowly and they don’t usually spread to other places in the body.
How long can you live with thymoma?
If the thymic cancer is located only in the thymus, the 5-year survival rate is 93%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 79%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 40%.
Should a thymoma be removed?
Thymoma surgery involves removal of the thymus, a pyramid-shaped lymphoid gland situated beneath the breastbone (sternum) at the level of the heart. This procedure, known as a thymectomy, is usually recommended when cells in the thymus become cancerous (thymoma).
Can thymoma be cured?
Many early-stage thymomas can be cured with surgery to remove the tumor along with a small margin of surrounding healthy tissue. Oftentimes, a localized tumor can be removed without the need to perform a preliminary biopsy.
How long can you live with a thymoma?
What is early stage thymoma?
Early stage thymomas are rare, indolent tumors of the thymus gland. Thymomas may develop at any age, but are most common between the ages of 35 and 70. Distribution between genders tends to be fairly equal, with a slight female predominance in older age groups.