Abstract | BACKGROUND: With the aim of evaluating the results of multidisciplinary approaches, we reviewed our experience in multimodality treatment of advanced stage (III and IVA) thymic tumors. METHODS: RESULTS: The preoperative diagnosis of invasive thymomas was performed in a total of 29 cases: 15 by mediastinotomy, 6 by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and 8 by fine-needle aspiration. In 27 cases no diagnosis was available, but in most of them a thymus-related syndrome was present. Thirty-four patients are still alive (31 disease-free), and 22 have died (2 disease-free). Ten-year survival was 48% and 45.7% for stage III and IVA thymomas, respectively. The presence of myasthenia gravis (p = 0.04) and neoadjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.004) affected survival significantly. CONCLUSIONS: The multimodality treatment of stage III and IVA thymic tumors allows a good long-term outcome; the neoadjuvant chemotherapy improves the resectability rate and the survival of both stages of the disease.
|
Authors | Marco Lucchi, Marcello Carlo Ambrogi, Leonardo Duranti, Fulvio Basolo, Gabriella Fontanini, Carlo Alberto Angeletti, Alfredo Mussi |
Journal | The Annals of thoracic surgery
(Ann Thorac Surg)
Vol. 79
Issue 6
Pg. 1840-4
(Jun 2005)
ISSN: 1552-6259 [Electronic] Netherlands |
PMID | 15919267
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
Chemical References |
- Epirubicin
- Etoposide
- Cisplatin
|
Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
(therapeutic use)
- Carcinoma
(drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
- Cisplatin
(administration & dosage)
- Combined Modality Therapy
- Epirubicin
(administration & dosage)
- Etoposide
(administration & dosage)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Myasthenia Gravis
(complications)
- Neoadjuvant Therapy
- Radiotherapy, Adjuvant
- Retrospective Studies
- Survival Analysis
- Thymoma
(drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
- Thymus Neoplasms
(drug therapy, pathology, radiotherapy, surgery)
- Treatment Outcome
|