title: Radiofrequency ablation in the management of advanced stage thymomas: a case report on a novel multidisciplinary therapeutic approach.
abstract: We describe in this report a case of successful radiofrequency ablation of an unresectable stage III-type B3 thymoma, and we discuss the role of this novel approach in the management of patients with advanced stage thymoma. The patient, a 59-year-old Caucasian male underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy with only a slight reduction of the mass. Subsequently, an explorative sternotomy and debulking were performed; before closing the thorax, radiofrequency ablation of the residual tumor was carried out and a partial necrosis of the mass was achieved. A further percutaneous radiofrequency ablation was performed subsequently, obtaining complete necrosis of the lesion. Successively, the patient underwent adjuvant radiotherapy. As a result of this multidisciplinary treatment, complete and stable response was obtained. It is hard to say which of the single treatments had the major impact on cure; nevertheless, the results obtained suggest that radiofrequency ablation must be taken into account for the treatment of advanced stage thymomas, and its effectiveness must be further assessed in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Surgical Pathology, Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Panagiotis
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5485-6056
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paliogiannis
authors.affiliation: Surgical Pathology, Department of Surgical, Microsurgical and Medical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale San Pietro 43B, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pala
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Oncological Hospital of Cagliari, Via E. Jenner 1, 09100 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Versace
authors.affiliation: Department of Radio-Oncology, Oncological Hospital of Cagliari, Via E. Jenner 1, 09100 Cagliari, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3029-990X
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pusceddu