Clinical features
There are no specific history or physical examination findings that allow an unequivocal diagnosis of a thymic tumour to be made - about one third of patients with thymoma are asymptomatic, and the diagnosis is often incidental. (1)
- the mean age of patients with thymomas is 50 years; rare in children where they are associated with a poor prognosis
- males and females equally affected
- radiographic mass - most common in anterosuperior mediastinum
- variable clinical presentation dependent upon the aggressiveness of the lesion. Basic patterns include:
- asymptomatic
- features attributable to local pressure effects e.g. cough, dyspnoea, dysphagia and superior venal cava obstruction
- associated systemic disorders (see associated conditions)
Note - about 40% of patients with thymoma have associated myasthenia gravis. (2)
Reference
- Girard N, Ruffini E, Marx A, et al. Thymic epithelial tumours: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2015;26(suppl 5):v40-v55.
- Detterbeck FC, Parsons AM. Thymic tumors. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 May;77(5):1860-9.
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