[Thymic cancer effectively treated by combination chemotherapy of carboplatin and etoposide with concurrent radiotherapy].
A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for acute heart failure. A chest CT scan revealed a large anterior mediastinal mass and pericardial effusion. Percutaneous needle biopsy showed that the mass was an advanced thymic cancer (squamous cell carcinoma). The patient was treated by combination chemotherapy of carboplatin and etoposide with concurrent radiotherapy (44 Gy). There was no severe toxicity except for grade 4 neutropenia. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, the mass showed an approximately 81% reduction in tumor size and disappearance of the pericardial effusion. Finally, the thymic cancer and small pulmonary metastatic lesions were all resected. This concurrent chemoradiotherapy can be effective against inoperable squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus.
Kaira
Kyoichi
K
Dept. of Respiratory Medicine, Maebashi Red Cross Hospital.
Watanabe
Rieko
R
Takise
Atsushi
A
Endou
Katsuaki
K
Kamiyoshihara
Mitsuhiro
M
Mori
Masatomo
M
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013934:Thymectomy; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery
D005047:Etoposide; D016190:Carboplatin