Management of stage I and II thymoma.
With a knowledgeable assessment of the clinical presentation and demographic and radiologic characteristics, most thymomas can be reliably identified preoperatively without the need for a biopsy. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for stage I and II thymoma. The rate of complete resection is essentially 100% by open techniques, and recurrences are rare. A complete thymectomy via a sternotomy is the standard approach. Adjuvant radiotherapy after a complete resection does not appear to be of benefit. In the rare event of a recurrence, an aggressive approach should be taken with re-resection whenever possible.
Section of Thoracic Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520-8062, USA. frank.detterbeck@yale.edu
Frank C
FC
Detterbeck
Alden M
AM
Parsons
D006801:Humans; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D013945:Thymoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*