Publication
Title
Thymoma: a focus on current therapeutic management
Author
Abstract
Thymomas are rare intrathoracic malignant tumors. Commonly used staging system is the Masaoka classification, based on peroperative and histopathological findings. Surgery is the cornerstone of the management of thymomas, initially being useful for precise histopathological diagnosis and staging, and in most cases ensuring the first step of the therapeutics simultaneously. After tumor stage, complete resection is the most constant and significant prognostic factor for progression-free and overall survival. Postoperative radiotherapy is recommended in incompletely resected thymomas. Completely resected stage II and III tumors may also benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy to reduce local recurrence rates but without impact on survival. In primary unresectable thymomas, multimodal strategy nowadays includes neoadjuvant chemotherapy, extensive surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy, and in some cases, adjuvant chemotherapy. The most popular chemotherapy regimens combine cisplatin, adriamycin, etoposide, cyclophophamide, or ifosfamide. The management of thymomas is a paradigm of cooperation between clinicians, surgeons, and pathologists from establishing the diagnosis to organizing the therapeutic strategy and evaluating the prognosis. As a consequence of their rarity, no prospective randomized trials are available and collaborative studies are warranted to evaluate and improve current therapeutic standards, taking into account recent improvements in techniques, such as robotic surgery, radiotherapy, and supportive treatments.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Journal of thoracic oncology / International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer [Aurora, Colo.] - Hagerstown, Md, 2006, currens
Publication
Hagerstown, Md : Lippincott Williams & Wilkins , 2009
ISSN
1556-0864 [print]
1556-1380 [online]
DOI
10.1097/JTO.0B013E31818E105C
Volume/pages
4 :1 (2009) , p. 119-126
ISI
000262196500021
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 28.01.2009
Last edited 13.12.2021
To cite this reference