In five patients (8%), the cause of death could not be determined. Of the 60 known deaths, 19 (32%) were related directly to thymoma or its treatment and 36 (60%) were not related. Therefore, the overall thymoma-related mortality rate was 14%, and the nonthymoma-related mortality rate was 26%.

Thymoma and thymic malignancies are diseases in which cancer cells form on the outside surfaces of the thymus. The thymus gland is a small organ that lies in the upper chest under the breastbone. It makes white blood cells, called lymphocytes, that protect the body against infections.

Thymoma is a rare tumor with a largely indolent growth pattern. It does, however, have malignant potential as a result of its ability to invade locally and metastasize regionally.

Survival rates can give you an idea of what percentage of people with the same type and stage of cancer are still alive a certain amount of time (usually 5 years) after they were diagnosed….5-year relative survival rates for thymus cancer.

Top 5 Deadliest Cancers

• Prostate Cancer.
• Pancreatic Cancer.
• Breast Cancer.
• Colorectal Cancer.
• Lung Cancer.

Overall, a majority of thymoma patients will live at least five years, while fewer than half or those with thymic carcinoma are expected to live that long.

The 5-year survival rate for people with thymus cancer is 71%. However, survival rates are different depending on several factors, including the stage and classification of thymoma (see Stages). If the cancer is located only in the thymus, the 5-year survival rate is 93%.

Occasionally, it can spread to the lining of the lung, called the pleura. Less often, it can spread to other parts of the body. Thymic carcinoma (see Stages) also starts in the thymus. It is more likely to spread to the lining of the lungs and other parts of the body.

Stage IV. Stage IV is divided into stage IVA and stage IVB, depending on where the cancer has spread. In stage IVA, cancer has spread widely around the lungs or heart. In stage IVB, cancer has spread to the blood or lymph system.

No specific inherited, environmental, or lifestyle risk factors have been strongly linked to thymoma or thymic carcinoma. Some studies have suggested a possible link with exposure to radiation to the upper chest area, but this has not been confirmed. The only known risk factors are age and ethnicity.

In most of these cases the tumor is seen by chance on a test (like a chest x-ray or CT scan) that is done for some other reason. Thymomas are often associated with symptoms that are not directly caused by the tumor mass itself.

Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma: Symptoms and Signs

• Persistent cough.
• Shortness of breath.
• Pain or pressure in the chest.
• Muscle weakness.
• Drooping eyelids.
• Double vision.
• Arm or facial swelling.
• Difficulty swallowing.

Diseases & conditions The most common thymus diseases are myasthenia gravis (MG), pure red cell aplasia (PRCA) and hypogammaglobulinemia, according to the NLM. Myasthenia gravis occurs when the thymus is abnormally large and produces antibodies that block or destroy the muscles’ receptor sites.

Surgery. The most common surgery for thymus tumors is complete removal of the thymus (including any tumor), called a thymectomy. In some cases, chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be administered before surgery to try to shrink the tumor so that it can be more easily removed completely.

Swelling in the face, neck, and upper chest, sometimes with a bluish color. Swelling of the visible veins in this part of the body. Headaches. Feeling dizzy or light-headed….Symptoms caused by the tumor

• Shortness of breath.
• Cough (which may bring up bloody sputum)
• Chest pain.
• Trouble swallowing.
• Loss of appetite.
• Weight loss.

The thymus gland will not function throughout a full lifetime, but it has a big responsibility when it’s active—helping the body protect itself against autoimmunity, which occurs when the immune system turns against itself. Fortunately, the thymus produces all of your T cells by the time you reach puberty.