Results from surgical treatment for thymoma. 43 years of experience.

OBJECTIVE: The biological behavior of thymoma and its prognosis after surgical intervention remain still controversial. The efficacy of surgical treatment for thymoma was investigated by examining long-term follow-up data. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Follow-up data for patients undergoing surgical resection of histopathologically-confirmed thymoma between 1954 and 1997 were obtained and were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical staging was based on Masaoka's staging system, and histological classification on Rosai's proposed criteria. RESULTS: Data for 140 patients were collected. Sixty-four patients had stage I, 32 had stage II, 28 had stage III, and 16 had stage IV thymoma. There were significant differences in survival between patients with stage I and stage III, stage I and stage IV and stage II and stage III disease, but not between those with stage I thymoma and stage II thymoma. No significant difference in survival was observed between the 56 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) and the 84 without MG. The 38 patients classified as having a predominantly-epithelial thymoma had a poorer prognosis than the 41 with a predominantly-lymphocytic thymoma. Until 1975, there were four patients with stage I thymomas who later showed recurrence, compared with 21 among those with stage II, III and IV diseases. Since 1976, extended thymectomy with thymomectomy under median sternotomy has been adopted as the standard operation for a thymoma, and there has been no recurrence in stage I patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stage III or IV invasive thymoma have a poorer prognosis and a higher recurrence rate than those with encapsulated thymoma, and patients with a predominantly-epithelial thymoma have a poorer prognosis than those with a predominantly-lymphocytic thymoma. Extended thymectomy with thymomectomy under median sternotomy can be considered as adequate treatment for a stage I thymoma. Myasthenia gravis does not appear to affect the prognosis of patients with a thymoma.     

J. Maxwell Chamberlain Memorial Paper. Role of staging in prognosis and management of thymoma

Eighty-five patients operated on for thymoma from 1972 to 1989 were evaluated, 32 with myasthenia gravis and 53 without. Masaoka staging revealed stage I disease in 45 (53%), stage II in 23 (27%), stage III in 14 (16%), and stage IVa in 3 (4%). There was no operative mortality. Actuarial survival at 10 years was 63.7% for all patients: 78.3% for those in stage I, 74.7% for those in stage II, and 20.8% for those in stage III. There was no recurrence in patients in stage I. Mediastinal recurrence developed in 4 patients in stage II considered to have noninvasive disease by the surgeon. It is recommended that all patients be followed up for a minimum of 10 years and that all patients in stages II and III receive postoperative radiotherapy. The presence of myasthenia gravis is no longer considered as an adverse factor in survival.     

重症肌无力合并胸腺瘤的外科治疗(附31例报告)

报告１９８０年至１９９６年１０月手术治疗３１例重症肌无力合并胸腺瘤的结果。３１例占同期手术治疗１２０例重症肌无力之２５．８％。按Ｍａｓａｏｋａ分期属Ｉ期７例，Ｉ期８例，ＩＩ期１５例，ＩＶ期１例，术后１５例发生危象，均采用气管切开及辅助呼吸，１例死于危象。随访半年至８年，平均３７个月，５年内死亡６例，其中ＩＩ期４例，Ｉ期２例。结论：重症肌无力合并胸腺瘤术后危象的发生率远较未合并胸腺瘤者高，及时气管切开行辅助呼吸是处理的关键；胸腺瘤的Ｍａｓａｏｋａ病理分期与预后明显相关，肌无力的严重程度对预后亦有重要影响     

Thymoma--a retrospective study of 48 cases

Of the 48 thymomas operated on between 1968 and 1985 50% were associated with myasthenia gravis, in 25% diagnosis was made due to accidental X-ray findings. In the staging according to Masaoka et al. [10] the following distribution was noted: I:22, II:5, III:18, IV:3. The 5-year survival rate of the 37 curatively resected patients was 78.5% (stage I: 88.6%, stage III: 55.6%). No stage III patient with residual tumor survived more than 2 years. Predominantly epithelial tumors had a significantly worse prognosis as compared to those with lymphocytic predominance. None of the 4 patients with category II thymoma survived more than 15 months. Association with myasthenia proved to have a negative prognostic influence in stage I and II patients. Frequency of local recurrences and metastases is documented. The value of irradiation and chemotherapy is discussed.     

Thymoma

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the prognostic factors for thymoma that remain controversial. METHODS: We studied 72 consecutive patients treated for thymoma during the period between 1966 and 1997. Recurrence-free interval rates and overall survival rates calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method were compared using log-rank test by the Masaoka stage, extent of surgical resection, histology, or associated disease(s). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox's proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Thirty-two thymomas were at Masaoka stage I, 9 at stage II, 15 at stage III, and 16 were at stage IV. There were 56 complete resections, 7 incomplete resections (2 at stage III and 5 at stage IV), and 9 biopsies (1 at stage III and 8 at stage IV). Forty-one thymomas were cortical, 16 medullary, and 15 were mixed form. Association of myasthenia gravis was found in 20 patients, and pure red cell aplasia in 7. After an average follow-up period of 103 months, the recurrence-free 5-, 10-, 15-year interval rate was 89%, 80%, 80%, respectively, and overall 5-, 10-, 15-year survival rate was 86%, 71%, 59%, respectively. Factors influencing the recurrence-free interval and overall survival included the Masaoka stage, extent of surgical resection, and association with pure red cell aplasia. Multivariate analysis revealed stage IV tumor and association with pure red cell aplasia as risk factors for recurrence. Pure red cell aplasia indicated poor prognosis for overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: Masaoka stage, extent of surgical resection, and association with pure red cell aplasia were prognostic factors for thymoma. Multidisciplinary treatment for stage IV tumors and better control of pure red cell aplasia, if associated, should be investigated.     

胸腺瘤的诊断、治疗和预后

目的：探讨影响胸腺瘤的诊断,治疗及预后的相关因素。方法：回顾性分析116例胸腺瘤的临床资料,运用寿命表法计算其生存率,以生存,复发或转移率为指标,进行研究。结果：胸部X线等影像学检查是本病诊断的主要手段,重症肌无力是最常见的伴随疾病,发生率为25．0％（29／116）。扩大胸腺及胸腺瘤切除可降低Ⅰ、Ⅱ期肿瘤的复发率（x^2=4.941,P=0.0219),放疗和化疗等综合治疗可以提高疗效。组织学分型（M－H）法与临床分期有明显的相关性,能更有效地反映胸腺瘤的侵袭性(=0.385,P=0.007),本组患者3,5,10年生存率分别为81．2％,67．9％和40．5％,肿瘤分期与生存率明显呈负相关（r=-0.897,P=0.000)。结论：肿瘤的组织类型,病理分期及综合治疗方法是影响患者预后的重要因素,伴随疾病对患者的预后无明显影响。     

Seventeen years of surgical treatment of thymoma: factors influencing survival

We report on 17 years experience of the surgical treatment of thymoma in 65 patients, 11 with and 54 without myasthenia gravis. Patients were staged using the French "GETT" classification; 38 were in stage I (no invasive tumor), 6 in stage II, 13 in stage III and 8 in stage IV. In 45 patients, surgical excision was total while the remaining 20 underwent partial resection only. Postoperative radiotherapy was given in 12 cases, and 17 received a combination of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. One patient was lost to follow up, but no operative death occurred in the series. The mean survival for all patients was 70 +/- 7 months, and the 5- and 10-year survival was 91% +/- 4% and 69% +/- 8%, respectively. Follow-up for the 47 patients still alive and 4 patients deceased from unrelated causes ranged from 1.5 to 180 months (mean 142 +/- 10 months). Our data indicate that the prognosis of thymoma relates to radiological discovery (P less than 0.01), total surgical resection (P less than 0.01) and stage of tumor (P less than 0.01). It is not influenced by age, sex, tumor cell type or the presence or absence of myasthenia gravis.     

Thymoma

Objective: We evaluated the prognostic factors for thymoma that remain controversial.Methods: We studied 72 consecutive patients treated for thymoma during the period between 1966 and 1997. Recurrence-free interval rates and overall survival rates calculated by the Kaplan-Meier method were compared using logrank test by the Masaoka stage, extent of surgical resection, histology, or associated disease(s). Multivariate analysis was performed using Cox's proportional hazards model.Results: Thirty-two thymomas were at Masaoka stage I, 9 at stage II, 15 at stage III, and 16 were at stage IV. There were 56 complete resections, 7 incomplete resections (2 at stage III and 5 at stage IV), and 9 biopsies (1 at stage III and 8 at stage IV). Forty-one thymomas were cortical, 16 medullary, and 15 were mixed form. Association of myasthenia gravis was found in 20 patients, and pure red cell aplasia in 7. After an average follow-up period of 103 months, the recurrence-free 5-, 10-, 15-year interval rate was 89%, 80%, 80%, respectively, and overall 5-, 10-, 15-year survival rate was 86%, 71%, 59%, respectively. Factors influencing the recurrence-free interval and overall survival included the Masaoka stage, extent of surgical resection, and association with pure red cell aplasia. Multivariate analysis revealed stage IV tumor and association with pure red cell aplasia as risk factors for recurrence. Pure red cell aplasia indicated poor prognosis for overall survival.Conclusions: Masaoka stage, extent of surgical resection, and association with pure red cell aplasia were prognostic factors for thymoma. Multidisciplinary treatment for stage IV tumors and better control of pure red cell aplasia, if associated, should be investigated.     

Treatment of thymomas. A report of 67 cases.

From 1979 to 1989, 126 patients were treated for thymic tumors. Of these, 67 (53%) had thymomas occurring in 27 men and 40 women; the mean age was 46 years: 24 patients had no symptoms and myasthenia gravis was present in 21 cases. A complete resection was performed in 45 patients, associated in 22 with postoperative adjuvant treatment (radiotherapy, 2; radio- and chemotherapy, 20). Two patients had a partial resection followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Twenty patients had initially only a biopsy and were treated by irradiation in 3 cases, radio- plus chemotherapy in 16, radio- plus chemotherapy and subsequent resection in 1 case. The staging was carried out according to the GETT Classification (stage I A:26; I B:6; II:12; III A:1; III B:18; IVA:4). Thymomas were found to be of predominant epithelial type in 12 cases, predominantly lymphocytic type in 9, and mixed in 46. No recurrence occurred after complete resection. The overall 10-year survival was 71.1%. A good correlation was found according to staging: 96% in stage I; 80% in stage II; 35% in stage III. Presence of myasthenia gravis did not affect the results. The best prognostic factor remains complete resection with postoperative radiotherapy to prevent recurrences. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy needs further evaluation.     

Thymoma: trends over time

BACKGROUND: This is a review of a series of patients who presented with thymoma over the most recent 20-year period. Changes and trends in disease patterns were documented. METHODS: Data were collated retrospectively but all pathology slides were reviewed. Survival functions were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Seventy-one patients had a partial or total thymectomy during this period for a thymoma. Average age was 55 years. Twenty-three patients (32%) had myaesthenia gravis. Eighteen patients (25%) were asymptomatic. Thirty-three patients (47%) had stage 1 disease. Complete resection was achieved in 60 patients (85%). Five-year survival was 88%. Fifty percent of patients with myesthenia gravis showed improvement in symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Five- and 10-year survival rates in this study are better than in other series. We attribute this to an increasing number of patients with stage 1 and stage 2 disease, particularly those with myasthenia gravis who now have screening computer tomography, and also to the surgical intent of aiming to achieve complete resection even if excision of adjacent tissue is required.     

Results of surgical treatment of thymomas with special reference to the involved organs

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to clarify the significance of the particular involved organ as a prognostic factor and its relation to other previously reported factors. METHODS: The prognoses of 194 consecutive patients with thymoma who had undergone complete or subtotal resection were reviewed retrospectively. Survival was evaluated as actuarial freedom from tumor death. Analysis of prognostic factors was performed by the Kaplan-Meier method with the log rank test and Cox's proportional hazards model. RESULTS: The Masaoka staging system and involvement of the great vessels were the independent prognostic factors in the entire study group; age, sex, histologic subtype, completeness of resection, association of myasthenia gravis, or involvement of other organs were not factors. The 10-year and 20-year survivals were 99% and 90% in stage I, 94% and 90% in stage II, 88% and 56% in stage III, 30% and 15% in stage IVa, 0% and 0% in stage IVb, 93% and 83% in the absence of involvement of the great vessels, and 54% and 20% in the presence of it. Involvement of the great vessels was also the single independent prognostic factor in the patients with stage III disease although completeness of resection or involvement of other organs were not. The 10-year and 20-year survivals in patients with stage III disease were 97% and 75% in the absence of involvement of the great vessels, and 70% and 29% in the presence of it. CONCLUSION: Although the Masaoka staging system is a valuable prognostic factor, the category of stage III is heterogeneous and consists of 2 groups with distinct prognoses depending on involvement of the great vessels.     

Thymoma: a review of the clinical and pathological findings in 65 cases.

INTRODUCTION: Although rare, thymoma is the most common tumour of the anterior mediastinum. In an effort to assess the clinical and pathologic characteristics of this tumour and to determine whether clinicopathologic stage or histopathologic classification correlates with clinical outcome, in the Department of Pathology and the Department of Surgery at the University of Saskatchewan we reviewed all cases of thymoma registered in the province of Saskatchewan using the database of the Saskatchewan Cancer Centre. METHODS: In 65 patients with a diagnosis of thymoma or thymic carcinoma identified from the Saskatchewan Cancer Centre database between Jan. 1, 1960, and Dec. 31, 2000, we studied the presentation, diagnostic investigations, therapeutic interventions, tumour size, postoperative course, clinical stage, histopathologic classification, disease recurrence and mortality. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients, 17 (26%) were asymptomatic and 11 (17%) had symptoms consistent with myasthenia gravis. Surgical resection is most commonly performed through a median sternotomy and frequently requires en bloc resection of one or more adjacent structures. The overall survival of patients with thymomawas found to correlate with the clinical stage as described by Masaoka and colleagues and with complete tumour resection. A trend to clinicopathologic correlation was observed when applying the histologic classification systems of Suster and Moran and the World Health Organisation, but this trend was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Thymoma is a rare tumour with a variable clinical presentation. Clinical outcome correlates with clinical stage and the ability to achieve complete tumour resection.     

Tumors of the thymus and thymic region: I. Clinicopathological studies on thymomas

A series of 43 patients with thymoma was reviewed. The patients were classified with respect to some factors of prognostic significance. The tumors were reclassified histologically, and a staging system with three defined stage-groups was applied to the series on the basis of operative findings and histological examination of surgical specimens. Surgical-pathological staging is of high prognostic and therapeutic importance in thymomas. Complete removal of the tumor was possible in the 25 patients with stage I or II disease and in 14 of the 18 patients with stage III tumors. Pleural metastases were observed in half of the patients with stage III disease. Even patients with extensive local spread or pleural metastases were subject to tumor resection. The treatment of choice is radical resection along in stage I; radical extirpation and, if indicated, postoperative radiotherapy in stage II; and radical resection whenever possible, even in cases of pleural spread, in stage III, with postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Myasthenia gravis is an indication rather than a contraindication to radical treatment of thymoma, although some patients may deterioratte. The importance of total thymectomy is stressed.     

经颈部切口全胸腺切除术13例

目的探讨经颈部切口的全胸腺切除术治疗前纵隔胸腺内小病灶的临床应用价值。方法2007年3月～2011年12月行经颈部切口全胸腺切除术13例,使用常规手术器械及头灯照明,经颈横切口从胸骨后间隙完整游离肿瘤及全胸腺并切除。结果1例因游离中发现侵犯左无名静脉中转胸骨正中切口切除肿瘤。12例经颈部切口全胸腺切除术平均手术时间48．1min（38—60min）,平均术中出血量45ml（30～50m1）,平均术后住院3．7d（2～7d）。1例术后第2天出现房颤,药物治疗后转窦性心率。13例均无手术相关性死亡。术后病理：MasaokaI期胸腺瘤2例,Ⅱ期胸腺瘤3例,Ⅲ期胸腺瘤1例,胸腺增生3例,胸腺脂肪瘤、胸腺囊肿、异位甲状旁腺囊肿、巨大淋巴结增生各1例。5例MasaokaI／Ⅱ期胸腺瘤术后均未行放化疗,随访3～57个月均存活,未见肿瘤复发;1例MasaokaⅢ期胸腺瘤术后放疗50Gy,随访14个月,无复发;胸腺增生3例术后症状均明显改善,随访14～28个月均完全缓解;其余4例良性胸腺肿瘤随访31—59个月,均存活,未见肿瘤复发。结论经颈部切口的全胸腺切除术治疗前纵隔胸腺内早期小病灶是安全可行的。对于合并胸腺内病变的早期重症肌无力患者及≤5cm的MasaokaI／Ⅱ期胸腺瘤患者的手术确切疗效有待于进一步病例数的积累。     

Thymoma: results of 241 operated cases

Clinical and histopathological aspects of 241 thymomas were reviewed. One hundred sixty of the patients with thymoma had myasthenia gravis and 15 had other autoimmune diseases; 55% of the thymomas were encapsulated and 45% invasive. Operation was radical resection in 87.5% of the patients, subtotal resection with residual tumor in 8.7%, and simple biopsy in 3.7%. A tumor relapse was observed in 24 patients (10%): 2 (1.5%) of 133 with encapsulated thymomas and 22 (20.4%) of 108 with invasive thymomas; among these patients, a relapse was found in 20.6% of the patients who received radiotherapy postoperatively and in 24.6% who did not. Adverse prognostic factors were clinical stage IVa (multiple pleural nodes), not feasible resection (for technical reasons), inoperable tumor relapse, and association with one of the following autoimmune diseases: pure red cell aplasia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and lupus erythematosus. Conversely, myasthenia gravis is now a curable disease; it contributes to early discovery of associated thymoma, thus allowing a better survival for patients with thymoma who have myasthenia gravis compared with patients with thymoma but without myasthenia gravis (p less than 0.05). Postoperative radiotherapy does not seem necessary after removal of encapsulated thymomas, but it is advisable in case of invasive thymomas, regardless of the extent of the resection.     

横断胸骨扩大胸腺切除治疗全身型重症肌无力

目的探讨经横断胸骨入路行扩大胸腺切除治疗重症肌无力的临床疗效。了解该入路的特点及临床疗效有助于该领域胸外科医师在临床实践中进行更好的临床决策。 方法对1998至2008年在复旦大学附属华山医院胸心外科行横断胸骨治疗全身型重症肌无力的211例患者的临床资料进行回顾性研究,分析患者术中和术后基本情况。并对术后5年进行随访的患者根据是否合并胸腺瘤进行分组,采用χ²检验比较两组间的疗效。 结果经横断胸骨入路能满足对合并Masaoka-Koga Ⅰ期及Ⅱ期胸腺瘤患者及无瘤患者实施扩大胸腺切除的需要,手术并发症较低,便于围术期护理,恢复迅速。对173例患者进行术后5年随访,总缓解率达到79.8%(138/173),无肿瘤复发。合并胸腺瘤组的总缓解率为81.9%(59/72),未合并胸腺瘤组的总缓解率为78.2%(79/101),两组间比较差异无统计学意义(χ²＝0.362,P＝0.548)。 结论与其他常用手术入路相比,横断胸骨入路的特点值得该领域胸外科医师关注。     

胸腺瘤与胸腺瘤合并重症肌无力的临床探讨

目的　探讨胸腺瘤 (TT)及胸腺瘤合并重症肌无力 (TTMG)的临床特点。方法　对 2 2年间外科治疗的TT 2 5 8例 ,其中单纯TT 16 8例 (组 1) ,TTMG 90例 (组 2 )的临床特点进行对比分析。结果　组 1平均年龄 38 4岁 ,93 4%的病人肿瘤直径大于 5cm ,病理分期多为III、IV期 (6 1 2 % )。组 2平均年龄 46 2岁 ,肿瘤直径 5cm以下占 6 5 6 % ,5 5 2 %为病理I期。结论　早期胸腺瘤诊断标准为 :肿瘤直径<3cm和病理分期I期 ;TTMG的特征是肌无力 (MG)的症状重、病史短、症状进展快、胸腺危象的发生率高。     

胸腺瘤合并重症肌无力与单纯重症肌无力的临床特征及手术疗效分析

目的　探讨胸腺瘤合并重症肌无力 (MG)与单纯MG的临床特征及手术疗效。方法回顾性分析 1978年至 2 0 0 3年 2 4 3例MG患者临床资料 ,比较胸腺瘤合并MG组 (6 8例 )与单纯MG组 (175例 )的临床特点 ,以及术后并发症、缓解率、生存情况。结果　胸腺瘤合并MG组较单纯MG组年龄大 [平均年龄分别为 (41± 14 )与 (2 8± 16 )岁 ,t=6 .138,P =0 0 0 0 ]、病程短 (平均分别为 10、2 4个月 ,t =3 783,P =0 0 0 0 ) ,术后肌无力危象发生率高 [分别为 5 0 0 % (34/ 6 8)与 5 7% (10 / 175 ) ,χ2=6 4 77,P =0 0 0 0〗 ,两组Osserman分型差异无显著意义 (χ2 =7 6 78,P =0 10 4 )。胸腺瘤合并MG组肌无力症状完全缓解率、部分缓解率 ,术后 1年分别为 10 2 % (6例 )、6 2 7% (37例 ) ,术后 3年分别为 2 1 6 % (8例 )、75 7% (2 8例 ) ,低于单纯MG组 [术后 1年分别为 2 2 1% (30例 )、94 1% (12 8例 ) ,术后 3年分别为 4 4 4 % (44例 )、94 9% (94例 ) ,P值分别为 0 0 4 9、0 0 0 0、0 0 15、0 0 10 ];术后 5年两组比较肌无力症状完全缓解率、部分缓解率差异无显著意义 (P =0 4 5 7,P =0 6 99)。胸腺瘤合并MG组 3、5年生存率分别为 96 3%、84 4 % ,显著低于单纯MG组的 98     

Long-term outcome after multimodality treatment for stage III thymic tumors

BACKGROUND: Surgery remains the cornerstone of therapy for thymic tumors, but the optimal treatment for advanced, infiltrative lesions is still controversial. The introduction of multimodality protocols has substantially modified survival and recurrence rate. We reviewed our 13-year prospective experience with multimodality treatment of stage III thymoma and thymic carcinoma. METHODS: Since 1989 we have prospectively used a multimodality approach in 45 stage III thymic tumors. Sixteen patients (35%) had myasthenia gravis. Twenty-three patients (51%) had pure or predominantly cortical thymoma (group 1), 11 (24.5%) had well-differentiated thymic carcinoma (group 2), and 11 (24.5%) had thymic carcinoma (group 3). Tumors that were not considered radically resectable at preoperative workup underwent biopsy and induction chemotherapy (15 patients, 33%) followed by surgical resection; all patients were referred for adjuvant chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS: No operative mortality was recorded; 1 treatment-related death during adjuvant chemotherapy was observed in group 1. Complete resection was feasible in 91% of patients in groups 1 and 2 and 82% in group 3. The overall 10-year survival was 78%. Ten-year survival for groups 1 and 2 was 90% and 85%, respectively; 8-year survival for group 3 was 56%. During follow-up, tumor recurrence was noted in 3 patients (13%) from group 1, 3 (27%) from group 2, and 3 (27%) from group 3. CONCLUSIONS: Multimodality treatment with induction chemotherapy (when required) and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy offers encouraging results for stage III thymic tumors; the outcome is more favorable for cortical thymoma and well-differentiated thymic carcinoma.