How serious is a thymoma?
Most thymomas have the potential to behave like a cancer and spread beyond the thymus, but many appear to behave in a benign fashion and are noninvasive. Less commonly, it appears to have spread beyond the thymus. People sometimes refer to such an invasive thymoma as malignant thymoma.
What are the symptoms of a thymoma?
Symptoms
- Shortness of breath.
- Cough, which may contain blood.
- Chest pain.
- Trouble swallowing.
- Loss of appetite.
- Weight loss.
Can thymoma be cured?
Most people with operable thymoma are cured with either surgery alone or surgery followed by radiotherapy.
How common are thymomas?
Most tumors that begin in the thymus are thymoma, but overall, thymoma is uncommon. Less than 1 person out of 1.5 million people develops thymoma. This means about 400 people per year develop thymoma.
Do thymomas grow back?
Recurrent thymoma and thymic carcinoma is cancer that has recurred (come back) after it has been treated. The cancer may come back in the thymus or in other parts of the body. Thymic carcinomas commonly recur. Thymomas may recur after a long time.
What causes thymoma?
No specific inherited, environmental, or lifestyle risk factors have been strongly linked to thymoma or thymic carcinoma. Some studies have suggested a possible link with exposure to radiation to the upper chest area, but this has not been confirmed. The only known risk factors are age and ethnicity.
What is the cause of thymoma?
Are thymomas benign?
Thymomas. Thymomas are the most common tumour of the thymus in adults, and the most common primary tumour of the anterior mediastinum in adults. Thymomas are usually benign or low-grade malignant tumours of thymic epithelium.
What kind of doctor treats thymus gland?
Thoracic surgeon: a surgeon who specializes in chest surgery. Radiation oncologist: a doctor who treats cancer with radiation therapy.
Is an enlarged thymus serious?
Thymic hyperplasia is a condition in which the thymus gland is inflamed. This is a benign condition and can be associated with a number of other medical conditions, such as thyroid abnormalities. Thymic hyperplasia can also be seen in association with MG.
At what age does the thymus disappear?
age 75
Once you reach puberty, the thymus starts to slowly shrink and become replaced by fat. By age 75, the thymus is little more than fatty tissue. Fortunately, the thymus produces all of your T cells by the time you reach puberty.