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Thymoma and Thymic Cancer Prevention

Because of the rarity of thymic cancer, little is known about how to prevent thymic tumors.

Preventing Thymic Cancer

There are two types of thymic malignancy: thymoma and thymic carcinoma. These tumors grow on a gland called the thymus, located between the lungs and near the heart, and they are extremely rare. Each year, fewer than two cases are reported for every 1 million people in the United States.

Because thymoma and thymic carcinoma are so rare, there’s still much to be understood about risk factors for the disease and how to prevent it. That’s why Winship Cancer Institute focuses on prompt and accurate diagnoses of thymic tumors, and an expert team is in place to identify the best course of treatment for patients.

What Are Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma?

Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are diseases in which cancer cells grow in the thymus gland, an organ that makes white blood cells used to help the body fight infection. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are also known as thymic epithelial tumors, or TETs.

  • Thymoma is typically more common and less aggressive. It may be slower growing and more likely to be localized, compared with thymic carcinoma.
  • Thymic carcinoma is less common and more aggressive. It moves much faster and is more likely to metastasize or spread to other parts of the body.

Thymic Cancer Risk Factors

More research is needed to fully understand the key risk factors of thymic cancer. Currently, there are no lifestyle attributes, environmental aspects or inherited genetic factors that can be definitively determined to cause thymoma or thymic carcinoma.

However, researchers have identified three potential links to thymic cancer:

  • Age. Thymic malignancies are more often found in older adults between the ages of 40 and 75.
  • Race. In the United States, thymic tumors occur more frequently in Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. It is the least common in white and Latino Americans.
  • Myasthenia gravis. This is an autoimmune condition that affects the nerves and muscles. Myasthenia gravis and other paraneoplastic diseases are often associated with thymoma.

Without Prevention, What’s Next?

Though thymic cancers are rare, Winship’s experienced multidisciplinary thoracic team is committed to helping patients receive prompt diagnoses, which are crucial to thymic tumors, and individualized treatment protocols.