Thymoma: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Thymoma is the term used to describe cancer of the thymus gland, which is situated in the upper chest above the heart and below the breastbone. The thymus gland is a crucial component of the lymphatic system and aids in the maturation of T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell that directly attacks foreign microorganisms and fights infections.

Furthermore, Immature lymphocytes from the bone marrow enter the thymus gland to mature, making it an important part of the body’s immune system.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Thymoma?

Initially, it does not show any symptoms, and it might be diagnosed on any routine test such as an x-ray, CT scan, or MRI for any other disease.

However, when the tumor size increases, it exerts pressure on nearby situated organs and the patient becomes symptomatic with the following symptoms.

 Uncontrolled Coughing:

The patient will be presented with coughing, not settling with medication, as the tumor exerts pressure on the trachea and lungs. Coughing worsens if patients lie down and most of the patients cannot even sleep due to severe coughing.

Pressure on Chest/ Tightness:

Enlarged tumor exerts pressure on the trachea, lungs, and chest cavity and the patient may feel chest tightness.

Weight Loss:

As in cancer, the body consumes energy in fighting against cancer which results in weight loss.

Fever:

As the patient’s immunity is compromised, the patient becomes more susceptible to infections. However, Fever is the first sign of infection.

Decrease appetite: The patient may be presented with decreased intake.

Lethargy/weakness: Due to low oral intake and weight loss patient will complain of fatigue very easily. Furthermore, patients may have paraneoplastic symptoms.

Diagnostic Tests for Diagnosis of Thymoma:

Following are the diagnostic tests to diagnose thymoma.

Chest X-rays: By doing a chest X-ray tumor can be identified in the chest.

HRCT (High Resonance Computed Tomography): This test gives a clearer image of the tumor and its involvement in surrounding tissues.

Tissue biopsy: A piece of tissue is taken for diagnostic purposes and to find out the type of cancer in it. the biopsy is a standard test to diagnose thymoma.

MRI (magnetic resonance image): It indicates the disease elsewhere in the body. Which may help in the staging of thymus cancer?

 What are the Risk Factors?

Not an exact cause is known, but the following may be some of the risk factors.

Family history: Patients with a family history of other cancer can be at greater risk of developing thymoma.

Radiation exposure: Patients exposed to radiation earlier than any other treatment may have thymoma.

Smoking: People who are chain smokers can be at greater risk.

Patients with Auto-immune diseases .: Some studies show a link between some auto-immune diseases and thymoma. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, and autoimmune red cell aplasia can develop thymus cancer.

What is the treatment for Thymoma?

Treatment of thymoma depends upon the stage and spread of the disease. If the cancer is localized to the thymus gland then surgery is preferred and is the best option.

Chemotherapy: cytotoxic drugs called chemotherapy are given to kill the cancer cells and shrink the tumor before surgery. These medications can be in injection form, or oral tablets, which enter into the bloodstream and reach the cancer cells to kill them.

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy is given to target the tumor and shrink before surgery.

Surgery: After the tumor is shrinking, the oncological surgeon removes the tumor as much as, it can be removed, called a thymectomy. Moreover, after surgery radiation or chemotherapy is administered to kill the remaining cancer cells.

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy consists of medication that boosts patients’ immunity .thus strong immunity attacks the cancer cells.

Targeted therapy: The medication used in this therapy targets the specific molecules needed for cancer cells’ growth. Targeting and destroying these molecules inhibit cancer cell growth. These medications have fewer side effects on normal cells of the body.me

Palliative therapy: If the disease is spread to major organs like the lungs, liver, abdomen, and other parts, then only supportive treatment is given to settle the symptoms and provide comfort to the patient.

What is The Survival Rate of a Patient With Thymoma?

 The life expectancy of a patient after diagnosis of thymoma depends upon the stage of the disease. If cancer is localized to the thymoma and does not spread to other organs, the patient may live many years of life. If cancer spreads to other parts at the time of diagnosis, this may complicate the patient’s condition.

 Conclusion:

Thymoma is a cancerous growth that affects the thymus gland. During the early stages, it may not display any symptoms, but as the tumor grows larger, the patient may start experiencing symptoms. To diagnose thymoma, doctors typically use CT chest scans, MRIs, and biopsies to take small samples of the thymus gland. The main treatments available include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, thymectomy (complete removal of the thymus gland), immunotherapy, and targeted therapy.