Thymic epithelial tumors represent the most common neoplasms of the anterior mediastinum, while atypical type A thymoma is a rare subtype of thymoma. On the morphological basis of type A thymoma, this tumor exhibits some atypical histological features, such as abundant cells, increased mitotic counts, tumor necrosis, and increased Ki67 index. At present, the clinical and pathological data of this tumor is still available. Since it was formally named, 16 cases have been reported around the world. In order to improve the understanding of the disease, this article reviews the related literature and tries to elaborate the atypical type A thymoma from the aspects of pathological features, clinical manifestations, epidemiology and differential diagnosis.
ObjectiveTo compare the perioperative outcomes of subxiphoid robot-assisted extended thymectomy (SRAET) and video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) for myasthenia gravis complicated with thymoma.MethodsRetrospective analysis of 61 patients with myasthenia gravis combined with thymoma who were admitted to the Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University from January 2017 to June 2019 was performed. All patients underwent extended thymectomy, and the patients were divided into a SRAET group and a VATET group. There were 26 patients in the SRAET group, including 11 males and 15 females, with an average age of 42.20±13.20 years. There were 35 patients in the VATET group, including 14 males and 21 females, with an average age of 45.00±13.00 years. The perioperative outcomes of the two groups including gender, age, operation time, intraoperative blood loss, conversion rate, postoperative drainage, tube removal time, drainage volume, visual analogue scale, hospital stay and postoperative complications were compared.ResultsThere was no conversion to thoracotomy, death or myasthenia crisis in both groups. The operation time (111.42±28.60 min vs. 103.71±26.20 min, P=0.845), intraoperative blood loss (32.31±23.84 mL vs. 63.57±132.22 mL, P=0.239), visual analogue scale at postoperative 24 h (2.46±0.76 vs. 2.40±0.74, P=0.751) and postoperative 48 h (2.12±0.77 vs. 2.26±0.56, P=0.407), complication rate (3.8% vs. 2.9%, P=0.675), drainage volume (206.85±130.09 mL vs. 276.86±173.46 mL, P=0.089) and hospital stay (5.81±2.52 d vs. 5.29±2.17 d, P=0.642) were not significantly different between the two groups. The visual analogue scale of the SRAET group at postoperative 72 h (1.12±0.65 vs. 1.86±0.91, P=0.001) was significantly lower than that of the VATET group.ConclusionSRAET is a safe and feasible method with less postoperative short-term pain, which is an alternative surgical treatment for myasthenia gravis complicated with thymoma.
Objective To compare the clinical efficacy and safety of da Vinci robot with totally no tube (TNT) versus subxiphoid video-assisted thymectomy surgery (SVATS) in the treatment of thymic tumors. Methods From 2019 to 2021, a retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with thymic tumor resection in the Department of Thoracic Surgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command. All patients underwent total thymectomy and mediastinal fat removal, and they were divided into a TNT group and a SVATS group according to the operation method. The intraoperative blood loss, conversion rate, postoperative visual analogue score (VAS), postoperative hospital stay time and postoperative complications were compared between the two groups. Results We finally included 435 patiets. There were 168 patients with 83 males and 85 females at an average age of 61.920±9.210 years in the TNT group and 267 patients with 147 males and 120 females at an average age of 61.460±8.119 years in the SVATS group. There was no death or postoperative myasthenic crisis in both groups. There was no statistical difference in postoperative hospital stay (1.540±0.500 d vs. 3.400±0.561 d, P=0.000), intraoperative blood loss (13.450±5.498 mL vs. 108.610±54.462 mL, P=0.000), postoperative 24 h VAS score (4.960±1.757 points vs. 3.600±1.708 points, P=0.000), or postoperative complication rate (3.0% vs. 11.6%, P=0.001).Conclusion TNT is a more efficient, safe, and effective surgical approach for treating thymic tumors, which can shorten hospital stay time and reduce postoperative complications. However, SVATS can minimize postoperative pain.
摘要:目的:研究胸腺瘤與前縱隔(血管前間隙)淋巴瘤的MSCT表現,提高對二者的診斷與鑒別診斷能力。方法:回顧性分析經手術病理證實的30例胸腺瘤與18例血管前間隙淋巴瘤MSCT表現,著重觀察腫瘤的密度、形態及其與周圍結構的關系。結果:30例胸腺瘤中,24例良性胸腺瘤與鄰近大血管分界清晰,腫塊表現 “D”字或反“D”字狀,平掃CT值16~59 Hu,增強CT值20~110 Hu;6例侵襲性胸腺瘤邊界不清,呈分葉狀、不規則形,密度不均,平掃CT值23~42 Hu,增強CT值23~60 Hu。18例淋巴瘤中,單發于前上縱隔者6例,其余12例呈多結節、腫塊狀,侵入血管間隙生長,致大血管受壓,增強掃描呈輕度強化,常伴有其它部位淋巴結增大。結論:MSCT能清晰顯示胸腺瘤與前縱隔淋巴瘤的影像學表現特征,并能有效提高對二者的鑒別診斷。Abstract: Objective: To diagnosis and differentiate thymoma and malignant lymphoma in the anterior mediastinum on the basis of multislice CT (MSCT) imaging features. Methods:We retrospectively reviewed 30 cases with thymoma and 18 cases with malignant lymphoma proven by surgery and pathology.More attention was put on the density, morphology and relation with the surrounding structures of the tumors. Results: The CT manifestations of 30 cases of thymoma were shown as: For 24 cases of benign thymoma, the boundaries were clear, the shapes were “D” signs or contra“D” signs, CT attenuation value were 1659Hu and 20110Hu on unenhanced and contrastenhanced scanning. For 6 cases of malignant thymoma, the boundaries were unclear, the shapes were lobulated or irregular, the density was heterogeneous, CT attenuation value were 2342Hu and 2360Hu on unenhanced and contrastenhanced scanning. For 18 cases of malignant lymphoma, 6 cases were located at anterior mediastinum, 12 cases were nodes or multiple mass, enveloped the neighboring vessel structures, mildly enhanced on contrastenhanced scanning, and associated with enlargement of lymph nodes in other place. Conclusion: MSCT can display the imaging features of thymoma and anterior mediastinal lymphoma, and effectively differentiate thymoma and mediastinal lymphoma.
Thymectomy is the main treatment for thymoma and other thymic diseases. But the incidence of non-therapeutic thymectomy is high due to the difficulty in the differential diagnosis of anterior mediastinum lesions. Formerly, it was believed that the thymus gradually degraded and lost function with aging, and the preservation of the thymus was not valued. Recent studies have found that the removal of the thymus at all ages has adverse effects on overall health and leads to a significant increase in the risk of autoimmune diseases, malignancy, and all-cause mortality. Therefore, unnecessary thymectomy should be avoided. This article reviews the influence of thymectomy, including the changes of immunological indexes and clinical prognosis, and further discusses the current situation and avoidance methods of non-therapeutic thymectomy.
Objective To analyze the clinicopathological characteristics of thymoma patients and the influencing factors for prognosis. Methods Thymoma patients who received treatment in Sichuan Cancer Hospital from March 2015 to March 2021 were collected. Clinical data of the patients were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses. Results A total of 177 patients were included. There were 89 males and 88 females aged 17-88 (52.3±13.0) years, including 160 surgical patients and 17 non-surgical patients. There were 160 patients survived, 17 died of thymoma, and 5 had recurrence and metastasis. Overall, the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year progression-free survival rates were 94.4%, 88.7%, 88.1%, respectively; the 1-year, 3-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 94.9%, 91.5%, 91.0%, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that World Health Organization classification, clinical symptoms, Masaoka-Koga staging, treatment methods and surgery were statistically associated with progression-free survival; clinical symptoms, age, treatment methods and surgery were statistically associated with overall survival (P<0.05). Patients with younger age (P=0.018), without clinical symptoms (P=0.039), and with surgical treatment (P=0.004) had higher overall survival rates; those patients undergoing surgery had a higher progression-free survival rate (P=0.002). Conclusion Age, clinical symptoms and surgical treatment are independent factors influencing the prognosis of patients with thymoma.