title: Osseous oligometastases from thymic carcinoma: a case report suggesting the effectiveness of palliative-intent radiotherapy treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oligometastasis, a recently proposed concept, is defined as an intermediate state of cancer, between localized and systemic disease, that may be well controlled by local ablative treatment. Thymic carcinoma is a rare cancer with a poor prognosis. A definitive management approach has yet to be confirmed by a high level of evidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present the case of a 41-year-old female who underwent curative-intent surgery for a stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus. Bone metastases were detected 1 year later by magnetic resonance imaging. These were treated with palliative-intent radiotherapy. Disease progression has not been observed in more than 15 years since the achievement of complete radiological remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment outcomes in this and other reported cases suggest that some patients with oligometastatic thymic carcinoma may achieve prolonged survival or even cure with low-dose radiotherapy delivered to the metastases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Jumpei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kashima
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirotoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Horio
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Oncology, Research Center for Medical Sciences, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yusuke
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Oncology and Respiratory Medicine, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Yukio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hosomi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Cancer and Infectious Diseases Center Komagome Hospital, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsunekazu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hishima
keywords: bone metastasis; oligometastasis; thymic carcinoma; thymic epithelial tumor