Objective To investigate and evaluate the clinical features, diagnostic methods, surgical management and postoperative adjuvant therapy of thymic carcinoma so as to improve the treatment outcome. Methods Forty-three patients of thymic carcinoma , surgically intervened and pathologically confirmed in Peking Union Medical College Hospital through June 1961 to June 2004, were retrospectively analysed. Complete resection of the tumor was performed in 15 patients, partial or incomplete expiration in 23 , exploratory thoracotomy and biopsy in 5. Results All tumors were found inencapsulated and invading the surroundings,including pericardium, superior vena cava, left or right innominate vein, rnediastinal pleura, phrenic nerve and lung. In this series there was no perioperative death. Eight patients died within the first year postoperatively, 4 died within the second year postoperatively, 2 and 1 patients died in the 5th and 8th year postoperatively respectively. Through half to 18 years follow-up, according to the life table method, the 1,3,5 and 8 year survival rate were 68.29%, 56. 67%, 41.56% and 27. 71% respectively. Conclusions Thymic carcinoma is different from malignant thymoma in clinical manifestations, radiological features, pathological characteristics and prognosis, hence it is very important for thoracic surgeons to pay more attention to those differentiation. Chest CT is an effective method for diagnosis of thymic carcinoma. It is emphasized on that aggressive radical resection of the tumor with involved tissue or organs, even removal of superior vena cava and subsequent reconstruction of vessel, will effectively extend long-term survival. Postoperative radiotherapy and combination adjuvant chemotherapy, especially based on cisplatin, play a significant role in improvement of prognosis.
ObjectiveTo compare clinical effects of extended thymectomy for the treatment of thymic abnormalities with myasthenia gravis (MG) between subxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic resection (SR) and the unilateral thoracoscopic resection (UR) by a propensity-score matching analysis.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 612 patients who presented with MG and were admitted to Tangdu Hospital of Air Force Military Medical University between December 2011 and December 2018. Of these patients, 520 patients underwent subxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (a SR group) and 92 unilateral thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (a UR group). Ninety-two patients in the SR group were matched with the UR group by propensity-score matching analysis. There were 52 males and 40 females with an average age of 26-70 (50.2±10.3) years in the SR group, and 47 males and 45 females with an average age of 20-73 (51.5±12.1) years in the UR group. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, thoracic drainage time, postoperative hospital stay, thorough adipose tissue removal, postoperative remission of MG, patients’ satisfaction score, pain and complications were compared and analyzed between the two groups.ResultsAll operations were accomplished successfully, without conversion to thoracotomy of the two groups. There were statistical differences between the two groups in operation time (46.2±19.5 min vs. 53.4±23.5 min), chest drainage duration (0 d vs. 3.4±1.2 d), hospital stay (2.9±1.9 d vs. 3.6±1.7 d), patients’ satisfaction score (7.9±2.1 points vs. 6.7±1.2 points) and pain scores (all P<0.05). There were no statistical differences between the two groups in intraoperative blood loss (52.2±12.7 mL vs. 51.2±10.3 mL), peripheral adipose tissue removal (8.1±0.6 vs. 7.9±0.9), remission rate of MG (89.1% vs. 85.9%) and rate of postoperative complications (10.9% vs. 6.5%) (all P>0.05). ConclusionSubxiphoid and subcostal arch thoracoscopic extended thymectomy is a safe and feasible minimally invasive procedure for the management of MG with thymic abnormalities.
The announcement of the 9th edition of TNM staging system for thymic tumors was one of the highlights at the World Conference on Lung Cancer 2023. The revision, based on a larger and more detailed database, provides changes and confirmation from the last system. The 9th edition of TNM staging system aims to balance statistical significance and clinical feasibility. The birth of an improved TNM staging system heralds the changes that will follow in clinical practice and scientific research.