Thymic carcinoma. A distinct clinical entity responsive to chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND

Thymic carcinomas are rare tumors of the anterior mediastinum. These tumors are distinct thymic neoplasms that differ from their more common counterpart, thymoma. As opposed to thymomas, thymic carcinomas are histologically malignant neoplasms with a clinical course that tends to be much more aggressive than that of patients with thymoma.

METHODS

Between 1984 and 1990, five patients with thymic carcinoma treated with cisplatin-based combination chemotherapy were seen at Indiana University Hospital. These patients' diagnoses, courses, and treatments were reviewed.

RESULTS

Three patients responded (two completely) to cisplatin-based chemotherapy.

CONCLUSIONS

This form of chemotherapy merits additional study in such patients, and our experience indicates that at least some will have clinically meaningful responses. The optimum regimen is unclear, but would contain cisplatin and probably should be similar to that used in germ cell tumors.