What are thymomas?
Thymomas are tumours which arise within the thymus gland. The thymus gland is in the upper part of the chest on the front side. Thymus gland is associated with the immune system and usually becomes very small by adulthood.
Benign tumours are referred to as thymomas while their malignant counterparts are known as thymic carcinoma. A few thymomas can behave aggressively.
Are they cancerous?
Thymomas are classified as A, B and C. While A tumours are usually benign. B tumours behave aggressively. C type tumours are thymic carcinomas.
What are the symptoms of thymomas?
Usually, patients present with chest symptoms like cough and breathlessness.
Few of them with present with hoarseness of voice.
Few may present with lymph nodes in the neck.
Thymomas are associated with myasthenia gravis which manifests as weakness of the muscles.
How are thymomas diagnosed?
Usually are usually suspected when CT scan is done
For diagnosis a CT guided biopsy is usually done
PET scan is done to check the spread of thymic carcinomas
How are thymomas treated?
Treatments done for thymomas are