[Primary thymic lymphomas].
BACKGROUND
Primary thymic lymphomas (PTLs) are uncommon, and their prognosis is linked with early treatment. A review is carried out of this disease in our hospital in order to determine the best diagnostic-therapeutic management for these patients.


METHODS
Ten LPTs--four Hodgkin's and six non-Hodgkin's (4 primary mediastinal B lymphomas [PMBLs] and 2 lymphoblastic T lymphomas [LTLs]--were reviewed. Most of the patients were females, with a mean age of 23 +/- 10 years.


RESULTS
The initial diagnostic suspicion in the Hodgkin's lymphomas was thymoma in two cases and lymphoma in the other 2. All of them underwent surgery, including an intra-operative biopsy, which was completed with a thymectomy in the two in which thymoma was reported. They were treated with radio and chemotherapy. The response was partial in two cases, and treatment was completed with a bone marrow transplant (BMT) (one died and the other had active disease). The non-Hodgkin's lymphomas had large tumors and short evolution. All of them received surgery, with an intra-operative biopsy in four and a thymectomy in two. They were treated with chemotherapy, with associated radiotherapy in two. The response was total in three, with two recurring, who are in complete remission after a BMT. In the other three the response was partial.


CONCLUSIONS
In a patient with thymic tumour with a preoperative or intraoperative study suspected of having a lymphoma, it is necessary to do a biopsy and not resective surgery, to avoid unnecessary resections and morbidity. PTLs are uncommon but aggressive, principally the non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. The main treatment is radio and chemotherapy, with associated bone marrow transplantation in selected cases.
Ríos
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Departamento de Cirugía, Servicio de Cirugía Torácica, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, El Palmar, Murcia, Espana. ARZRIOS@teleline.es
Torres
J
J
Roca
M J
MJ
Galindo
P J
PJ
Alonso
J L
JL
Parrilla
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013934:Thymectomy; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy