title: High-dose methylprednisolone with chemotherapy for invasive thymoma: a case report.
abstract: A case of invasive thymoma that responded well to the administration of a high-dose methylpredonisolone with cisplatin and adriamycin is reported. A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea, chest oppression and edema of the face. Chest CT revealed a large mass in the anterior mediastinum with the opacification of superior vena cava. Biopsy specimens from the mass revealed a spindle cell thymoma, consisting of epithelial cells and lymphoid cells. A diagnosis of invasive thymoma was made and the patient was intravenously treated with a high-dose of methylprednisolone (1000 mg on days 1-5 and 500 mg on days 6 and 7), cisplatin (80 mg/m2 on day 1) and adriamycin (40 mg/m2 on day 1). The treatment with three courses of this combined chemotherapy resulted in the improvement and regression of all clinical signs and symptoms. This case demonstrated that a high-dose methylprednisolone with cisplatin and adriamycin might be potentially effective for invasive thymoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Medical Center East, Tokyo, Japan. mamihayashi@nifty.com
authors.forename: Mitsutoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Manako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.forename: Isao
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yamawaki
authors.forename: Shin-Ichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohkawa
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013945:Thymoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D004317:Doxorubicin; D002945:Cisplatin; D008775:Methylprednisolone