原发性食管小细胞癌47例预后分析

目的:探讨局限期原发性食管小细胞癌的治疗和预后.方法:回顾性分析1989年5月-2006年3月期间在本院接受手术治疗的47例原发性食管小细胞癌的临床资料.结果:47例患者均接受了手术治疗,其中部分患者还接受了术后化疗和(或)放疗,全组患者的中位生存时间为10.3个月,1、3、5年的生存率分别为42.2%、12.1%和4.6%.单纯手术组的中位生存时间为8.2个月,术后化疗组和术后联合放、化疗组的预后要优于单纯手术组(P=0.000和P=0.038),单纯手术组与术后放疗组的生存比较差异无统计学意义(P=0.081).多因素分析显示临床分期是影响患者预后的主要因素(P=0.003).结论:手术联合放、化疗或化疗是治疗局限期原发性食管小细胞癌的主要手段,有助于延长患者的生存期.     

原发性食管小细胞癌临床分析

目的探讨原发性食管小细胞癌的临床特点、治疗及预后.方法回顾性分析20例原发性食管小细胞癌患者的临床资料.结果局限期患者单纯手术、单纯化疗、单纯放射治疗、手术 化疗、化疗 放射治疗的中位生存时间分别为14,14,6,18,16个月;广泛期患者单纯化疗(2例)、化疗 放射治疗(2例)中位生存时间分别为6和8个月.全组的中位生存期为12个月,生存最长者已达72个月.而未治疗的广泛期患者仅存活2个月.结论对于原发性食管小细胞癌,应采用以化疗为主的综合治疗.     

529 例食管原发小细胞癌临床流行病学特征及治疗和预后分析*

目的:探讨食管原发小细胞癌（primar yesophageal small cell carcinoma ,PESC）临床流行病学特征及生存影响因素。方法:回顾性分析1992年至2015年529 例来自郑州大学第一附属医院河南省食管癌重点开放实验室500 000 例食管癌及贲门癌临床信息数据库PESC患者临床流行病学资料,其中241 例患者纳入生存分析。采用Kaplan-Meier 法计算5 年生存率,应用Log-rank 法检验比较各组间生存差异。结果:529 例PESC入组分析,占同期食管恶性肿瘤0.2%（529/ 251 707）,其发生率逐年增长（R2= 0.574）。241 例PESC总体1、2、3 及5 年的生存率分别为55% 、40% 、29% 及9% ,中位生存期为21.9 个月。根据小细胞肺癌VALSG分期标准,局限期和广泛期患者中位生存分别为24.3 个月和17.5 个月,差异具有统计学意义（P = 0.003）。 PESC患者不同治疗方式生存期存在显著差异（P = 0.004）,其中手术联合放化疗的患者中位生存期28.8 个月优于单纯化疗组17.8 个月（P = 0.015）及放疗+ 化疗组患者14.5 个月（P = 0.004）;局限期以手术治疗为主的患者中位生存期27.7 个月,与非手术患者16.2 个月,差异具有统计学意义（P = 0.007）。 此外,PESC术前活检病理确诊率为40.8% 。结论:PESC是一种较为罕见的食管恶性肿瘤,发生率呈上升趋势,其术前确诊率较低,预后极差,以手术为主的综合治疗有助于延长其短期生存期。      

27例原发性食管小细胞癌的临床分析

目的:探讨原发性食管小细胞癌的临床特征、治疗和预后。方法:回顾性分析27例原发性食管小细胞癌的临床资料,分析影响预后的相关因素。结果:27例患者中混合型病理类型占22.2%(6/27),全组除3例患者仅接受单纯化疗外,其余患者均接受了手术或放疗联合化疗的综合治疗,27例患者总体中位生存期14.1个月(4.6-37.2个月),1年、2年及3年总生存率为65.3%、33.8%和9.7%。单因素分析提示临床分期、治疗方式为预后影响因素,多因素分析提示临床分期为影响预后的独立因素。结论:原发性食管小细胞癌可能起源于食管黏膜的多潜能干细胞,以化疗为主的综合治疗有望提高疗效。     

妇科原发性小细胞癌八例临床分析

目的 妇科原发性小细胞癌病例罕见,预后差.结合北京大学第三医院病例探讨妇科原发性小细胞癌的发病特点以及诊断治疗方案.方法 回顾性分析2006 01-01-2015-08-31北京大学第三医院收治的经病理确诊的8例妇科原发性小细胞癌患者的临床特征、治疗方案以及预后.结果 患者年龄16～71岁,中位年龄43岁.常见症状包括阴道异常出血、腹痛、腹部包块等.诊断主要依靠手术病理确诊,其中宫颈小细胞癌ⅠB1期2例,ⅠB2期2例,ⅢB期1例;卵巢小细胞癌ⅢC期1例;子宫内膜小细胞癌Ⅳ期2例.治疗方案包括手术、化疗和放疗.手术方式参照相应部位肿瘤的治疗原则,有5例行广泛子宫切除术,2例行肿瘤细胞减灭术,1例因高龄伴高血压未行手术.7例手术患者中有3例接受术前化疗,7例术后均辅助化疗,有5例辅助术后放疗.随访至2015-12-20,无患者失访.有3例生存,分别随访22、22和56个月;5例死亡,生存期分别为2、8、10、22和31个月.患者疾病无进展生存时间(progression free survival,PFS)为0.3～56个月,中位PFS为1 5个月,总生存时间(overall survival,OS)为2～56个月,中位OS为22个月.结论 妇科小细胞癌术前影像学检查常有淋巴结转移,其确诊依靠组织病理学检查.该肿瘤预后差,手术是早期病变的主要治疗手段,晚期病例宜采用手术、化疗和放疗相结合的综合治疗.     

31例原发性食管小细胞癌的临床分析

目的:探讨原发性食管小细胞癌的临床特征、治疗方法及预后,特别是临床分期和化疗相关的综合治疗对预后的影响.方法:回顾性分析了1992～2007年在第四军医大学唐都医院胸腔外科接受治疗的31例食管小细胞癌患者的临床资料,采用Kaplan-Meier、Log-rank法及Cox回归分析临床特征和治疗方法对患者生存的影响.结果:全组中位生存时间为10个月,术后1、2、3年生存率分别为45.1%、16.1%、6.4%.逐步Cox回归分析表明有无淋巴结转移(临床分期)和手术辅助化疗是影响预后的主要因素.手术+化疗组的中位生存时间为12个月,术后1、2、3年生存率分别为70%、35.2%、11.7%;无淋巴结转移组的中位生存时间为13个月.术后1、2、3年生存率分别为75%、33.3%、16.6%.结论:原发性食管小细胞癌预后差,术后配合化疗可明显改善早期患者的预后.     

睾丸恶性淋巴瘤26例临床分析

目的:睾丸恶性淋巴瘤临床较为少见,本文总结了该病的临床特点、诊断、治疗方法及其预后.方法:26例睾丸恶性淋巴瘤,原发22例(84.6%),继发4例(15.4%),所有患者均接受睾丸手术切除治疗,病理诊断明确.原发睾丸恶性淋巴瘤息者中可随访的为19例,其中3例仅接受手术治疗,14例接受了手术和化疗,2例患者接受了手术联合化疗和放疗.4例继发患者均接受了局部放疗和全身化疗.结果:全组原发患者的中位年龄57岁,首发症状均为无痛性睾丸肿大,主要病理类型为弥漫大B细胞淋巴瘤(diffuse large B cell lymphoma,DLBCL),占84.6%(22/26),少见病理类型包括NK/T细胞淋巴瘤、淋巴母细胞淋巴瘤和B细胞不能分型者.所有原发患者的5年生存率为72%,Ann-Arbor分期Ⅰ～Ⅱ期患者的中位生存时间(median Burvival time,MST)为95.8个月,Ⅲ～Ⅳ期的MST时间为21.5个月.接受手术和化疗的患者的中位复发和MST分别为78.8和92.3个月.继发患者的中位复发时间为7.5个月,MST为25.0个月.结论:睾丸恶性淋巴瘤好发于老年男性,其预后可能与临床分期、病理类型和治疗方法有关.建议对所有患者在手术后进行放疗,并给予4～6个疗程的CHOP/CHOPlike方案化疗.     

21例原发性食管小细胞癌的诊断与治疗

目的：探讨原发性食管小细胞癌的临床特点、治疗及预后。方法：回顾分析21例原发性食管小细胞癌患者的临床资料,分析不同治疗方法的治疗效果,并对21例原发性食管小细胞癌患者肿瘤组织进行常规病理学检查及神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）和嗜铬素A（CgA）免疫组织化学染色。结果：1年生存率60.0％,2年生存率25.0％,3年生存率15.0％。中位生存期169个月。21例原发性食管小细胞癌患者组织中NSE和CgA染色呈阳性,其中2例小细胞癌病变中有鳞癌灶性病变。结论：原发性食管小细胞癌应采用以化疗占主要地位的综合治疗,局限期以手术联合化疗,广泛期以放疗联合化疗为宜。NSE和CgA在食管小细胞癌诊断中具有一定作用。     

原发性食管小细胞未分化癌八例临床分析

目的　讨论原发性食管小细胞未分化癌的发病率、临床特点、治疗及预后。方法　分析收治的 8例原发性食管小细胞未分化癌 ,并结合文献讨论。结果　手术 +化疗 4例中位生存 10个月 ,放疗 +化疗 3例中位生存 9个月 ,单纯放疗 1例生存 2个月。结论　以化疗为主的综合治疗是提高生存率的关键。     

81例原发食管小细胞癌临床分析

目的 探讨原发食管小细胞癌的临床特点、治疗方法和预后.方法 收集和分析81例原发食管小细胞癌的临床和随访资料.结果 81例患者中,男58例,女23例,年龄35～82岁,中位年龄60岁.75例患者有分期资料,其中局限期52例,广泛期23例.原发于食管中段42例,食管下段29例,食管上段9例.单纯小细胞癌77例,混合型4例.81例患者中,20例仅接受了1种手段治疗,其中11例接受手术治疗,6例接受化疗,3例接受放疗;61例接受了1种以上方式的综合治疗,其中以术后化疗居多(30例).81例患者生存时间为2～76个月,中位生存时间为13.5个月.1、3、5年生存率分别为55.6%、6.2%和2.5%.局限期患者中位生存时间为15个月,1、3、5年生存率分别为69.2%、7.3%和3.6%;广泛期患者中位生存时间为6个月,1、3年生存率分别为25.2%和0.多因素Cox比例风险模型回归分析显示,临床分期、体能状况、治疗方式和治疗模式是原发食管小细胞癌患者预后的独立影响因素.结论 原发食管小细胞癌是一种少见且恶性度极高的肿瘤,临床分期、患者的体能状况是影响预后的重要因素,采用合理的治疗是提高患者生存的主要措施.     

Patterns of failure following combined modality therapy for esophageal cancer, 1984-1990.

From 1984-1990, 143 patients with squamous cell or adenocarcinoma of the esophagus were enrolled in a Phase I/II study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by concurrent chemotherapy plus radiotherapy with or without subsequent esophagectomy. Patients received one cycle of Cisplatin or Carboplatin plus Etoposide for squamous cell carcinoma, or Cisplatin or Carboplatin plus 5FU for adenocarcinoma, followed by two cycles of the same chemotherapy given concurrently with 44-46 Gy over 5 weeks. Operable patients then underwent esophagectomy. Inoperable patients and those with positive surgical margins received additional irradiation (16-18 Gy). Twelve percent of the surgical group received preoperative radiotherapy doses > or = 50 Gy. Seventy-two percent (103) had clinical Stage I-III tumors and 28% (40) were clinical Stage IV (1983 American Joint Committee on Cancer criteria). Only clinical Stage I-III patients were analyzed with respect to patterns of failure. Isolated local failure occurred in 19/103 (18%) of clinical Stage I-III patients. Both local and distant relapse occurred in 15/103 (15%), and distant metastases alone occurred in 25/103 (24%). The 3-year actuarial rates of local and distant failures were 45% and 60%, respectively. Among the clinical Stage I-III patients who underwent surgery (n = 58) versus those who did not (n = 45), the 3-year actuarial local and distant failure rates were 30% versus 60% and 45% versus 45%, respectively. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify significant predictors of local control. For all clinical Stage I-III patients, treatment with surgery (p = 0.001) and with three or more cycles of chemotherapy (p = 0.02) were significant predictors of improved local control. Patients who underwent surgery were significantly younger and had a better performance status than those who did not. The improvement in local control with surgery did not translate into better survival, likely on account of a high operative mortality rate in older patients and those receiving > or = 50 Gy preoperatively. We conclude that local control remains poor with concurrent chemotherapy + radiotherapy for esophageal cancer. The addition of surgery improved local control, but distant metastases remain a problem both in this group of patients as well as those treated without esophagectomy. Efforts to improve local control appear warranted, but it remains to be demonstrated that improved local control translates into improved survival in esophageal cancer because of a high rate of distant metastases in patients whose disease is controlled in the esophagus.     

Screening for cancer, 1995: An update

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to evaluate the feasibility of a neo-adjuvantcombined chemo-radiotherapy in patients with localized squamouscell carcinoma of the esophagus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-two patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus,stages II and HI (or stage I if considered to be poor candidatesfor immediate curative surgery), age less than 70 years andWHO performance status 0 to 2, were enrolled in a study of radiotherapycombined with chemotherapy, consisting of 2 (operated patients)or 3 (non-operated patients) courses of cisplatin, vindesine,mitomy-cin-C or cisplatin, vinblastine. Surgery was routinelyproposed to patients. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients (88%) received full pre-operative therapy.Of 30 patients responding to this pre-operative therapy, 12had a third cycle of treatment and 15 had esophagectomy. Threeof the operated patients had no pathological evidence of residualtumour. Median survival of all 42 patients is 11 months andthe 2-year survival rate is 29%. There is no difference in survivalamong responding operated or non-operated patients. Our grouprepresents 95% of all eligible cases of squamous cell carcinomaof the esophagus occurring in Geneva during the study period. CONCLUSION: Our series gives a realistic view of the median survival ofa population of patients eligible for neo-adjuvant therapy ofesophageal cancer, and suggests that secondary surgery mightnot improve the patient survival. Furthermore, non-selectedpatients are at high risk for therapy-related death. chemotherapy, esophagus, radiotherapy, squamous cell carcinoma, surgery     

Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center experience and literature review

BACKGROUND: Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus is a rare disease with aggressive behavior and poor prognosis. Multidrug chemotherapy remains the treatment of choice given the systemic nature of the disease. Radiotherapy has been used concurrently with chemotherapy to enhance local control. The role of surgery in patients with limited disease is controversial. Limited data exist regarding the pathologic response of the tumor to chemoradiotherapy. The goal of the current study was to analyze the outcome of 8 patients treated at the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, with particular focus on the histologic findings of the resected specimens. METHODS: Patient records were reviewed for demographics, presenting symptoms, diagnostic modalities, disease stage, treatment, and outcome. RESULTS: Two of eight patients had metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis and received combination chemotherapy. Six patients had limited stage disease. Four received combined modality treatment including esophagectomy, and two received radiotherapy only. All four patients who underwent esophagectomy had pure small cell carcinoma histology at diagnosis and received preoperative combination chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. None of the four patients achieved a pathologic complete remission. Two patients had residual small cell carcinoma; one patient had squamous cell carcinoma and one adenocarcinoma. The median overall survival for the group of patients was 12.5 months (range, 5-57 months). CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients with limited stage disease, surgery with curative intent should be considered as part of multimodality treatment.     

食管小细胞未分化癌75例临床分析

目的探讨食管小细胞未分化癌的临床特点、治疗及预后。方法对75例食管小细胞未分化癌患者进行回顾性分析。男性58例,女性17例。食管颈段2例,胸上段11例,胸中段46例,胸下段16例。37例肿瘤长度≤5cm,38例＞5cm。单纯手术16例(21.3%),单纯化疗5例(6.7%),单纯放射治疗4例(5.3%),手术+化疗32例(42.6%),化疗+放射治疗14例(18.0%),手术+化疗+放射治疗4例(5.3%)。结果单纯手术者、单纯化疗者、单纯放射治疗者、综合治疗者的中位生存时间分别为13、8、7、11个月,全组的中位生存期为8个月,生存最长者已达127个月。1、2、3、4、5年生存率分别为42.5%、15.5%、12.9%、11.1%、10.9%。结论病变长度是影响预后因素之一。对于食管小细胞未分化癌,应采用综合治疗。手术+化疗对早期病例可能提高远期疗效。     

Posttherapy pathologic stage predicts survival in patients with esophageal carcinoma receiving preoperative chemoradiation

BACKGROUND: In patients with locoregional carcinoma of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction who underwent preoperative chemoradiation, it is unclear whether survival was better predicted by pretherapy clinical stage or by posttherapy pathologic stage. METHODS: The authors studied 235 consecutive patients with pretherapy clinical Stage II, III, or IVA (according to American Joint Committee on Cancer criteria) carcinoma of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction who were treated with chemoradiation followed by esophagectomy. Posttherapy cancer status was classified using pathologic stage and semiquantitative assessment of residual carcinoma. Clinicopathologic features, residual carcinoma status, and pretherapy and posttherapy stage were compared with disease-free and overall survival. RESULTS: Posttherapy pathologic stage was Stage 0 in 29% of patients, Stage I in 11% of patients, Stage II in 34% of patients, Stage III in 20% of patients, and Stage IV in 6% of patients. Cancer downstaging occurred in 56% of patients. In univariate analysis, disease-free and overall survival were predicted by posttherapy pathologic stage (both with P < 0.001), margin status (P = 0.002 and P = 0.01, respectively), extent of residual carcinoma (both with P < 0.001), and downstaging (both with P = 0.001), but not by age, gender, type of cancer, pretherapy clinical stage, or preoperative regimen. However, in multivariate analysis, disease-free and overall survival were independently predicted by posttherapy pathologic stage (both with P = 0.02). Extent of residual carcinoma was a marginally significant predictor of overall survival (P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Posttherapy pathologic stage was the best available predictor of outcome for patients with locoregional carcinoma of the esophagus or esophagogastric junction who underwent chemoradiation therapy followed by esophagectomy. The findings in the current study supported the concept of downstaging by preoperative therapy.     

Cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, and concurrent radiation therapy with and without esophogectomy for esophageal carcinoma

Twenty-nine patients with carcinoma of the esophagus were treated with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) (1000 mg/m2/d as a continuous intravenous [IV]infusion on days 1 through 4), cisplatin (100 mg/m2 IV on day 1), mitomycin C (10 mg/m2 IV on day 1), and concurrent radiation therapy (4500 cGy/4.5 wk). If no disease progression was observed, operable patients underwent surgery 4 to 6 weeks after completion of radiation therapy. A thoracotomy with a gastric pull-through operation was performed in the first six patients. Subsequently, a transhiatal ("blunt") esophagectomy was used. Twenty-five patients had squamous cell histology and four had adenocarcinoma. Of 25 patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 13 underwent esophagectomy. The clinical complete response rate was 61% (eight of 13 patients), with a pathologic complete remission documented in five of 13 patients (38%). The overall local tumor sterilization rate was 53% (seven of 13 patients). In the 12 patients who did not undergo surgery after chemoradiotherapy, four had a complete clinical response (33%) and five had a partial response (41%). Symptoms or signs of local disease recurrence or stricture were noticed in ten of 12 patients who did not undergo surgery (83%), compared with 28% of patients who underwent surgery. The median survival time of the group receiving surgery was 10 months, compared with 5 months for those who did not undergo operation (P = 0.027). Patients undergoing transhiatal esophagectomy had shorter postoperative hospital stays and fewer serious complications, compared with patients undergoing transthoracic esophagectomy. The use of chemoradiotherapy and transhiatal esophagectomy for esophageal carcinoma should be evaluated using alternative sequences of treatment (e.g., postoperative therapy) to reduce toxicity while maintaining local control of disease.     

肺外小细胞癌65例临床观察及分析

经回顾性调查研究发现，该院１９５８～１９９４年间诊治的６５例肺外小细胞癌中，食管原发小细胞癌最为常见，其首发症状因原发部位不同而各异。５７例有明确预后的患者中，手术组中位生存期１０个月，手术＋化防组中位生存期２３．５个月，局限期患者２年生存率３２．４％，５年生存率８．８％，广泛期患者２年生存率４．３％，５年生存率为０。研究提示：治疗该病除早期切除外，给予系统、足量的化疗将有助于提高患者生存率。     

53例肺外小细胞癌的临床分析

背景与目的:小细胞癌主要发生于肺内,肺外小细胞癌(extrapulmonarysmallcellcarcinoma,ESCC)被认为是一类与肺小细胞癌不同的临床病理类型。本研究目的在于探讨ESCC的临床特征、治疗及预后。方法:回顾性分析1985年1月至2005年12月中山大学肿瘤防治中心收治的经病理证实的53例ESCC患者的临床资料,分析本组患者的发病情况,发病部位,病理诊断,肿瘤分期,治疗方法及预后。结果:53例ESCC患者中,男性39例,女性14例。中位年龄53岁(27～76岁)。53例ESCC中食管33例(62.3%),子宫颈5例,喉4例,鼻咽3例,上颌窦2例,直肠2例,舌下腺、甲状腺、胸膜和肝脏各1例。局限期患者40例(75.5%),广泛期患者13例(24.5%)。对于广泛期患者多给予含铂方案化疗,总有效率为69.2%;对于局限期患者采取不同的治疗模式,即手术 化疗 放疗者7例,手术 放疗者3例,手术 化疗者18例,放疗 化疗者6例,单独放疗者4例,单独化疗者2例。全组患者中位生存期(mediansurvivaltime,MST)为20个月,1年和3年生存率(overallsurvival,OS)分别为41.3%和31.4%。局限期患者和广泛期患者的MST分别为26个月和15个月,1年OS分别为51.1%和14.4%,3年OS分别为42.5%和0(P=0.017)。结论:ESCC可发生于人体不同部位,以食管ESCC最多见。局限期ESCC常采用综合治疗模式,化疗仍是广泛期ESCC的主要治疗手段。总体上,局限期ESCC预后明显较广泛期ESCC好。     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, methotrexate, bleomycin and vincristine (CABO) in patients with stage III and IV squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Forty-six patients with Stage III-IV previously untreated squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, methotrexate, bleomycin and vincristine. The overall response rate was 70%, with a 9% complete response rate. The most frequent side effects were myelosuppression, nausea and vomiting, alopecia, neurotoxicity and stomatitis. Definitive local therapy consisted of surgery alone in 13 cases, surgery plus radiation in another 13, and radiotherapy alone in 14. Six patients, four of whom died, received no definitive local therapy and two were lost to follow-up. The median disease-free survival time was 10.5 months, and the most frequent cause of failure was local regional relapse (85%). Median survival time was 13 months and there were eight long-term survivals (median 48 months). Response to chemotherapy was independent of all analysed prognostic factors. Disease-free survival and survival were significantly influenced by the presence or absence of lymph nodes. Our results do not support the routine use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin, methotrexate, bleomycin, and vincristine in patients with advanced cell carcinoma of the head and neck.     

Clinical Analysis of 45 Patients with Thymic Carcinoma

OBJECTIVE To retrospectively evaluate the prognostic factors for advanced thymic carcinoma.METHODS The data from 45 patients with advanced thymic carcinoma were retrospectively analyzed according to Masaoka stage criteria. There were 29 Stage Ⅲ patients and 16 Stage Ⅳ patients (13 Stage IVA patients and 3 Stage IVB patients).According to the World Heath Organization Histological Criteria (2004), 25 cases were identified as low-grade and 20 cases were identified as high-grade. All diagnoses were confirmed by biopsy. Five patients underwent gross total resection, 21patients underwent subtotal resection and 19 patients underwent biopsy alone. Forty-two patients received radiotherapy with a median dose of 60 Gy, and 37 patients underwent conventional radiotherapy, including local irradiation and expanded irradiation.Local irradiation volume covered the primary tumor bed and approximately 1-2 cm2 surrounding the tumor (according to preoperative imaging). Expanded irradiation volume covered the full mediastinal and pericardium areas (with or without prophylactic irradiation in the supraclavicular area). Five cases received stereotactic radiotherapy. Thirty-one patients were also treated with chemotherapeutics, including Cisplatin, VP-16,Endoxan, 5-FU and taxol.RESULTS The median follow-up period was 59 months. The overall 3-year survival rate was 57.8%, and the median survival was 45 months. Univariate statistical analysis showed that the histological subtype and Masaoka stage were prognostic factors.The 3-year survival rate was 61.9% in patients treated with gross total resection and 55.0% in those who underwent biopsy only. The 3-year survival rate was 59.5% in patients treated with conventional radiotherapy and 80% in those treated with stereotactic radiotherapy. The 3-year survival rate was 64.5% in patients treated with simultaneous chemotherapy and 42.9%in patients treated without simultaneous chemotherapy (P >0.05). Chemotherapy in combination with radiation treatment and surgery achieved better outcomes for Stage Ⅳ patients than radiation treatment and surgery without chemotherapy (P < 0.05).CONCLUSION For patients with Stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ thymic carcinoma, complete resection and postoperative radiotherapy or fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy constitute the best treatment solution. Chemotherapy can also be used in combination to improve prognosis. For patients with Stage Ⅳ thymic carcinoma,chemotherapy is necessary.