[Influence factors on diagnosis and prognosis of thymoma: analysis of 135 cases].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the clinical features and prognostic factors of thymoma.


METHODS
135 patients with a diagnosis of thymoma or thymic carcinoma were identified in Peking Union Medical University Hospital from Jan, 1990 to Feb, 2003. Their clinical presentation and prognostic factors were analyzed.


RESULTS
Of the 135 patients, 21 (15.6%) were asymptomatic and 66 (48.9%) presented symptoms consistent with myasthenia gravis. Venous obstruction, male gender and longer disease course appeared to be the predisposing factors of malignancy (chi(2) = 8.373, P = 0.004; chi(2) = 6.125, P = 0.013; U = 1691.5, P = 0.013 respectively). Calcification and necrosis on radiological findings did not differentiate thymoma from thymic carcinoma. Tumor recurrence was related to the Masaoka stage and the course of disease by logistic method [Exp(b) = 1.050, 6.728, P = 0.038, 0.003]. The recurrence rate was 2.7% in stage I, 11.1% in stage II, 30.4% in stage III, and 83.3% in stage IV.


CONCLUSIONS
Thymoma has a variable clinical manifestation. Clinical outcome is correlated with Masaoka stage and early tumor resection. Radiographic findings are not reliable in the differentiation of benign tumor from malignancy.
Tian
Xin-Lun
XL
Department of Respiratory Disease, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China.
Zhu
Yuan-Jue
YJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013945:Thymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology