title: [Two cases of thymic carcinoma effectively treated by preoperative chemotherapy].
abstract: A 67-year-old man was admitted with left pleural effusion on chest X-ray film. Chest CT scans showed an anterior mediastinal tumor, left pleural dissemination and pleural effusion. Percutaneous needle biopsy yielded a diagnosis of epitherial carcinoma. The patient underwent 3 courses of systemic chemotherapy (CDDP + ADM + VCR + CPA). At achievement of partial response, the tumor was completely resected. Examination of the resected tumor revealed partial response to chemotherapy. A 49-year-old woman was admitted our hospital with supraclavicular lymph nodes swelling. Chest CT scans showed an large mediastinal tumor. Percutaneous needle biopsy yielded a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma of thymus. The patient underwent 3 courses of systemic chemotherapy. At achievement of partial response, the tumor was completely resected. Examination of the resected tumor revealed partial response to chemotherapy. These cases indicate the usefulness of preoperative chemotherapy for advanced thymic carcinoma to reduce tumor size and to control local invasion, distant metastasis before operation.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Surgery, Okayama University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nagai
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nagahiro
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aoe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Okabe
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Date
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shimizu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D016572:Cyclosporine; D002945:Cisplatin