title: Multicenter institutional experience of surgically resected thymic epithelial tumors (TETs): an observational report on behalf of F.O.N.I.C.A.P. (Forza Operativa Nazionale Interdisciplinare Contro il Cancro del Polmone).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This multicenter analysis evaluated patient outcome and clinical pathologic features of thymic epithelial tumors after complete surgical resection and adjuvant treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Histologic classification and clinical staging were performed according to WHO classification and Masaoka staging system, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We analyzed 62 patients, 20 (32%) of whom had myasthenia at diagnosis. Clinical and pathologic staging was as follows: 31 (50%) and 30 (48%) patients had stage I disease, 19 (30%) and 22 (35%) stage II, 5 (8%) and 3 (6%) stage III, 2 (4%) and 2 (3%) stage IVa, and 5 (8%) and 5 (8%) stage IVb, respectively. Histologic examination revealed 11 (19%) type A tumors, 19 (30%) type AB tumors, 7 (12%) type B1 tumors, 11 (17%) type B2 tumors, 11 (17%) type B3 tumors, and 3 (5%) type C tumors. Adjuvant therapies comprised chemotherapy in 3 (5%) patients and radiotherapy in 16 (26%) patients. Median follow-up was 71 months (range 1-145). DFS and OS at 48, 60, and 72 months were 89 and 89%, 86 and 97%, and 95% and 92%, respectively. Myasthenia at the onset of disease (P=0.18 for DFS; P=0.97) and tumor size>5 cm (P=0.94 for DFS; P=0.56) were not prognostic factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TETs are rare and indolent tumors. Complete surgical resection followed by adjuvant therapies, such as chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy, in patients at risk of recurrence show very good DFS and OS results, even in cases with radically resected pleural-pulmonary metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Oncology, Cervesi Hospital, Cattolica, RN, Italy. ggenestreti@libero.it
authors.forename: Giovenzio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Genestreti
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ampollini
authors.forename: Marco Angelo
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Burgio
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rolli
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanna
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scarpi
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.forename: Salvatore Luca
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Burgio
authors.forename: Luca Burgio
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Giannone
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Santo
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mezzetti
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Buosi
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rusca
authors.forename: Dino
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Amadori
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gavelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009375:Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy