Thymoma

Description:

The thymoma is one of types of cancer which is localized in a thymus gland. Located behind a breast, the thymus gland  is small body which is a part of lymphatic system and helps to develop white blood cells.
The thymoma meets rather seldom. The majority of tumors which arise in a thymus are thymomas. Cancer of a thymus gland meets much less often and makes 1% of tumors which begin in a thymus gland.  Thymomas usually arise at aged people from 40 to 60 years.

Thymoma reasons:

There are no specific risk factors for a thymoma.  For thymus gland cancer risk factor is everything that increases chances of the person to develop cancer of other localization. Though risk factors often influence development of cancer, they do not cause cancer directly. Some people with risk factors, never develop cancer, and at others, in the absence of obviously expressed risks, diagnose cancer.

Thymoma symptoms:

At people with a thymoma some symptoms can be observed. Sometimes people at a thymoma any symptoms are not found. Happens that symptoms can be caused by other disease which is not connected with cancer.
So, at a thymoma can disturb:
- constant cough;
- asthma;
- pain or pressure in a breast;
- muscular weakness;
- ptosis century;
- hypostases of extremities;
- the complicated swallowing;
- anemia;
- frequent infections;
- fatigue;
- dizziness.
Are called remissions lack of any symptoms of cancer in an organism as a result of treatment or it is spontaneous.  Remission can be temporary or constant. The understanding of risk of a recurrence and options of treatment can help the patient to feel more prepared if cancer to be returned.
If cancer is returned after initial treatment, it is called cancer recurrence. It can return in the same place (a so-called local recurrence), near the initial center (a regional recurrence), or in other place (the remote metastasises).

Classification:

1. A thymoma like AB. Also is called the mixed thymoma type. At a histologic research at this type of a thymoma lymphocytes are found. The chance of recovery for people with the AB type of a thymoma is rather high, 15-year survival about 90%.
2. Thymoma of the B1 type. This type is known as  a cortical thymoma. The histologic research finds the increased quantity of lymphocytes in a tumor, but cells of a thymus gland seem normal. The chance of recovery for people with B1 thymoma type is high too, 20-year survival (percent of people who survive at least 20 years after diagnosis of cancer, except for those which die of other diseases) of about 90%.

3. Thymoma  of the B2 type. Many lymphocytes as thymomas of the B1 type also have thymomas of the B2 type, however, cells of a thymus gland do not look normally. Thymomas of the B2 type are also known as cortical thymomas and thymomas with polygonal cells. 20-year relative survival for people with type of a thymoma B2 makes about 60%.
4. Thymoma of the B3 type. Thymomas like п  are also known to B3 as epithelial thymomas or atypical a thymoma. This type of a thymoma has a small amount of lymphocytes and cells of a thymus gland look atypically. 20-year relative survival makes about 40%.
Cancer of a thymus is more aggressive. Thymus gland cells at a carcinoma are not similar to normal cells of a thymus gland. Sometimes cancer of a thymus gland is subdivided into two categories: which has more chances of recovery which, most likely, will quickly grow and extend. Five-year relative survival of patients with cancer of a thymus makes 35%. 10-year relative survival of patients with cancer of a thymus makes 28%.

Diagnosis:

Doctors use many tests for diagnosis of cancer and its metastasises. Some tests can also define what methods of treatment can be the most effective. For the majority of types of cancer, the biopsy is the only way to establish the final diagnosis of an oncological disease. If the biopsy is impossible, the doctor can offer other tests which will help to make the diagnosis.
In addition to other methods, the following tests can be used for diagnosis of cancer of thymus:
1. Biopsy. A biopsy is capture of a small amount of fabric for a research under a microscope. Other tests can assume presence of cancer, but only the biopsy can finally define the diagnosis. The sample of the fabric removed during a biopsy is analyzed by the pathologist.
2. Computer tomography. KT creates the three-dimensional image of an internal part of a body by means of a X-ray apparatus. KT of a thorax is the most widespread test used for search and assessment of a thymoma. The magnetic and resonant tomography and positron emission tomography can provide additional information, but these researches are not always necessary.
3. Magnetic and Resonant Tomography (MRT). MRT uses magnetic fields, but not X-ray, for obtaining detailed images of parts of a body. A contrast agent can be entered into the patient's vein to create more sharp image.
4. Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET is one more way of creation of the image of bodies and fabrics in an organism. A small amount of radioactive material is entered into the patient's body. This substance is absorbed generally by bodies and fabrics which use the greatest number of energy. As cancer tends  to active use of energy, cancer fabric absorbs more radioactive materials.
For the detailed description of cancer of thymus the so-called Masaoka system at which thymomas are classified  by the following stages is used:
Stage of I: cancer is limited by a thymus gland and the capsule which surrounds it.
Stage II: cancer extended in the cellulose surrounding a thymus gland or in the mucous membrane of lungs near a tumor called by a mediastinal pleura.
Stage III: cancer extended to other bodies, such as lungs, blood vessels, a pericardium.
IVA stage: cancer extended more widely in a mucous membrane of lungs or a pericardium.
IVB stage: cancer extended through circulatory or absorbent vessels.

Treatment of a thymoma:

The most widespread options of treatment at a thymoma are listed below. Options of treatment and the recommendation depend on several factors, including on type and a stage of cancer, possible side effects and the general state of health.
1. Surgical treatment.
Surgical methods of treatment of a thymoma assume an oncotomy and surrounding fabrics during operation.
The surgery is the most widespread method of treatment at an early stage of a thymoma. The most widespread type of operation at a thymoma is called the median sternotomy. By means of midsection access to a mediastinum is provided, and thymomas with surrounding fabrics is removed. Surgical intervention  often is the only necessary treatment at an early stage of a thymoma.
2. Radiation therapy.
Radiation therapy assumes use of high-energy X-ray or other particles which is capable to kill cancer cells. The most widespread type of radiation therapy is called external radiation therapy which represents the radiation proceeding from the device out of a body. The mode of radiation therapy usually consists of a certain number of procedures during the established span.
External radiation therapy can be used only after operation, or in a combination with chemotherapy at treatment of a thymoma. For patients with late stages of a disease, radiation therapy is often recommended after removal of a thymoma in the surgical way.

From radiation therapy the fatigue, skin reactions, swallowing difficulty, a gastric disturbance can include side effects. The majority of side effects are stopped soon after the end of treatment.
3. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is called use of drugs for destruction of cancer cells. As a rule, these drugs block ability of cancer cells to growth and division. The system chemotherapy assumes purpose of medicines to reach influence on cancer cells on all organism. The schedule himioterapiiobychno consists of a certain number of cycles during the established span. The patient can receive medicines consistently or in a simultaneous combination.
The following drugs are most often used for treatment of a thymoma:
Karboplatin (Paraplat, Paraplatin)
Platinol
Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Clafen, Neosar)
Doxorubicine (adriamycin)
Etopozid (Vepezid, Toposar)
Ifosfamida (Cyfos, IFEX, Ifosfamidum)
Paklitaksel (Taxol)
The general combinations used for treatment of a thymoma include:
Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicine, Cisplatinum
Etopozid and Cisplatinum
Karboplatin also paklitakset
These combinations of chemotherapy are sometimes used to reduce a tumor before operation if thymomas is at later stage. The chemotherapy can be also used for people who have IVB/recurrent stage a thymoma (cancer which is returned after treatment).
Side effects of chemotherapy depend on individual portability, type of drug, a dose. They can include fatigue, risk of infection, nausea and vomiting, a hair loss. These side effects usually pass after the end of treatment.

4. Palliative / maintenance therapy
In addition to the main treatment to slow down, stop or liquidate cancer, an important part of treatment is relief of symptoms of the person and side effects. This approach is called the palliative or supporting treatment, and includes support of the patient, his physical, emotional and social requirements. Palliative care can help the person with any stage of a disease.