Thymic carcinoma: a report of 13 cases.
OBJECTIVE
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.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Lucchi
M
M
Cardiac and Thoracic Department, Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Pisa, Via Paradisa 2, Pisa 56124, Italy. m.lucchi@med.unipi.it
Mussi
A
A
Ambrogi
M
M
Gunfiotti
A
A
Fontanini
G
G
Basolo
F
F
Angeletti
C A
CA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D015996:Survival Rate; D013945:Thymoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015251:Epirubicin; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin