Thymoma and Thymic Cancer Diagnosis

This is why a prompt and accurate diagnosis is critical to treating the tumors.

At Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, you’re in good hands. Our multidisciplinary team comprises pathologists and radiologists who specialize in identifying thymic tumors and are at the forefront of cutting-edge thymic cancer research, using the latest technology in imaging and diagnostic protocols. This ensures your diagnosis will be accurate and timely.

Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are forms of thymic cancer. They occur when cancer cells form on the thymus, a gland in the upper chest that sits between the lungs and is involved in the production of white blood cells.

There are two types of thymic tumors, and each may require a different therapy, which is why the right diagnosis matters.

• Thymoma is the most common thymic cancer tumor, accounting for 90% of thymus tumors. It is slow-growing and more likely to be confined to the thymus gland, compared with thymic carcinoma.
• Thymic carcinoma is less common, grows more quickly and is more likely to spread to other parts of the body.

After thymic cancer is diagnosed, your care team will determine the stage of the tumors.

• In Stage 1, cancer is found within the thymus only.
• In Stage 2, cancer has spread into the fat around the thymus or into the chest cavity.
• In Stage 3, cancer has spread to nearby organs in the chest.
• In Stage 4, cancer has spread around the lungs or heart, and possibly also to the blood or lymph system.

Thymoma and thymic carcinomas do not often cause symptoms. In fact, a thymic tumor is usually found when an imaging test of the chest is conducted for reasons unrelated to thymic cancer.

• Computed tomography (CT) scan. A chest scan is the most common imaging procedure used to detect a thymic tumor. Your physician might do a CT scan in conjunction with a positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This provides a detailed image of the tumor, helping your medical care team distinguish the mass as thymoma or thymic carcinoma.
• X-ray. A chest X-ray can indicate masses inside the chest and offer insight into the definition of a tumor’s edges.
• Biopsy. For most cancers, a small amount of tissue is removed from the mass for examination to confirm a diagnosis. In the case of thymic cancer, specialists can usually identify a malignant tumor based on imaging, and doctors might then remove the entire tumor during surgery rather than do a biopsy to both diagnose and treat the tumor simultaneously. However, if surgery isn’t an option, a biopsy will be completed first to confirm a diagnosis.

Most people don’t show signs or symptoms of thymic cancer. However, because the thymus sits in the middle of the chest and a tumor in the gland can press on nearby airways and blood vessels, some signs to look out for include:

• Chest pain
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent cough
• Trouble swallowing

Also, the thymus gland is near a large vein called the superior vena cava, which carries blood to the heart. Tumors pressing on this vein can lead to symptoms such as:

• Swelling in face, neck and upper body
• Swelling of veins in this part of the body
• Trouble breathing
• Feeling dizzy
• Headaches