Journal
DIAGNOSTICS
Volume 12, Issue 7, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics12071764
Keywords
thymic carcinoma; myasthenia gravis; surgery; recurrence
Categories
Funding
- Ministero della Salute--Ricerca Corrente 2022
Ask authors/readers for more resources
This study investigated the incidence of myasthenia gravis (MG) and its influence on long-term survival in patients with thymic carcinoma. The results showed that approximately 10% of thymic carcinoma patients had MG, but it did not significantly affect the long-term prognosis in surgically treated patients.
Background: Thymic carcinoma is a rare and highly malignant tumor with a dismal prognosis, which occasionally coexists with myasthenia gravis (MG). This study aims to investigate the MG incidence on a surgical cohort of patients with thymic carcinoma and to explore its influence on long-term survival. Methods: the prospectively collected data from the ESTS database on thymic epithelial tumors were reviewed. Clinical, pathological, and survival information on thymic carcinoma were analyzed. Results: the analysis was conducted on 203 patients, with an equal gender distribution (96 males and 107 females). MG was detected in 22 (10.8%) patients, more frequently elderly (>60 years, p = 0.048) and male (p = 0.003). Induction therapy was performed in 22 (10.8%) cases. After surgery, 120 (59.1%) patients had a Masaoka stage II-III while complete resection (R0) was achieved in 158 (77.8%). Adjuvant therapy was performed in 68 cases. Mean follow-up was 60 (SD = 14) months. The 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 79%, 75% and 63%, respectively. MG did not seem to influence long-term survival (5-year survival in non-MG-TCs 78% vs. 50% in MG-TCs, p = ns) as age < 60 years, female gender, early Masaoka stage, and postoperative radiotherapy did, conversely. Conclusions: myasthenia occurred in about 10% of thymic carcinomas and it did not seem to affect significantly the long-term prognosis in surgically treated thymic carcinoma-patients.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available