Follow-up study of thymomas with special reference to their clinical stages

Abstract

Follow-up data were obtained for 96 cases of thymoma. The one-year survival rate was 84.3%, the three-year 77.1%, the five-year 74.1%, and the ten-year 57.1%. The five-year survival rate of total resection group was 88.9%; that of non-radically treated group was 44.4%. Clinical stages were defined: Stage I--macroscopically encapsulated and microscopically no capsular invasion; Stage II--1. macroscopic invasion into surrounding fatty tissue of mediastinal pleura, or 2. microscopic invasion into capsule; Stage III--macroscopic invasion into neighboring organ; Stage IVa--pleural or pericardial dissemination; Stage IVb--lymphogenous or hematogenous metastasis. Five-year survival rates of each clinical stage were 92.6% in Stage I, 85.7% in Stage II, 69.6% in Stage III, and 50% in Stage IV. Recurrence after total resection was found in six of 69 cases. Seven of 13 patients treated by subtotal resection survived more than five years with postoperative radiotherapy.

Correlations of TNF-α gene promoter polymorphisms with the risk of thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis in a northern Chinese Han population

“…Of the 305 MG patients, there were 110 cases with positive anti-AchR and 195 cases with negative anti-AchR. Besides, according to Osserman's classification, 13 there were 126 ocular MG patients and 179 generalized MG patients.…”

The World Health Organization histologic classification system reflects the oncologic behavior of thymoma

“…Myasthenia gravis was related to disease in 130 patients. The classification system of Masaoka et al 3 was adopted as the staging system, and tumors classified as Stage II, III or IV disease were considered invasive. Involvement of the great vessels (the brachiocephalic veins, superior vena cava, and aorta) was confirmed by critical review of the surgical records.…”

“…Survival curves according to the staging system of Masaoka et al 3 are shown in Figure 1 classification system are shown in Figure 2. The 20-year survival rates were 100% for patients with type A tumors, 87% for patients with type AB tumors, 91% for patients with type B1 tumors, 59% for patients with type B2 tumors, and 36% for patients with type B3…”

“…1,2 The prognostic factors for thymoma have been studied by many clinicians and researchers to establish a strategy for the treatment of patients with these tumors, including surgical resection, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Staging according to the classification system of Masaoka et al, 3 which is based on invasion to the surrounding organs, 3 completeness of resection, 4 -7 association with myasthenia gravis, 8 -10 tumor size, 11 and involvement of the great vessels, 12 reportedly can determine the postoperative survival of patients with thymoma. At the same time, the prognostic relevance of the histologic classification of thymoma has been discussed intensively [13][14][15][16][17] but remains to be determined.…”

p53, cellular proliferation, and apoptosis-related factors in thymic neuroendocrine tumors

“…2,13,14 Clinical follow-up was obtained in each case; duration of survival and outcome were recorded. The cases were staged according to the criteria proposed by Masaoka et al: 15 Stage 1: macroscopically completely encapsulated and microscopically no capsular invasion; Stage 2a: macroscopic invasion into surrounding fatty tissue mediastinal pleura or both; Stage 2b: microscopic invasion into capsule; Stage 3: macroscopic invasion into a neighboring organ (pericardium, great vessel, lung, etc); Stage 4a: pleural and/ or pericardial dissemination; Stage 4b: lymphogenous and/or hematogenous metastasis. A lung primary tumor was excluded in all patients.…”