Thymic neoplasms: a clinical update.

Thymoma is a unique neoplasm of the anterior mediastinum that is frequently associated with indolent growth and a variety of paraneoplastic syndromes. One third of cases are detected during the evaluation of myasthenia gravis. Classification systems of thymoma have limited ability in accurately predicting prognosis and course of disease. Thus, staging is the only way to predict clinical behavior. Encapsulated tumors that are surgically resected carry the best prognosis. Adjuvant radiotherapy is recommended for incompletely excised and most invasive thymomas. Chemotherapy in anthracycline-based chemotherapy remains the most effective chemotherapy for neoadjuvant, adjuvant or palliative treatment.