Thymic Carcinoma is a rare, aggressive malignant tumor of thymus gland epithelial cells in the anterior mediastinum.
Thymic Carcinoma vs Thymoma
• Thymomas: Less aggressive, encapsulated, slow-growing, frequently associated with Myasthenia Gravis.
• Thymic Carcinomas: Aggressive, unencapsulated, invasive, early metastasis (pleura, lungs, bone, liver), CD5+ / CD117+ IHC markers, rarely associated with autoimmune disorders.
Symptoms & Diagnostic Workup
Symptoms: Dull chest pain, cough, dyspnea, hoarseness, SVC syndrome (face/neck swelling), dysphagia, night sweats, fever, weight loss.
Diagnostics: Chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI, PET-CT, CT-guided Core Needle Biopsy, IHC markers (CD5+, CD117+, EMA+), Masaoka-Koga Staging (Stage I to IVb).
Treatment: Surgical R0 complete resection / debulking, Radiation therapy, Chemotherapy (Cisplatin, Doxorubicin, Cyclophosphamide, Etoposide, Ifosfamide, Paclitaxel, Carboplatin), Targeted c-KIT & Immunotherapy.