[Thymoma-report of 166 patients].

OBJECTIVE

To discuss the characteristics of operation and the prognosis of 166 patients with thymoma.

METHODS

166 thymoma patients were treated from February 1985 to February 2000. By Masaoka staging system, there were 102 (61.4%) stage I, 28 (16.9%) stage II, 24 (14.5%) stage III, 12 (7.2%) stage IV a and 0 stage IV b lesions. The relation between stage and survival rate was analyzed.

RESULTS

One (0.6%) patient died of the operation. 137 (82.5%) patients underwent radical operation. Thirty patients were lost to follow-up. With the life table method, the 10-year survival rate was 56.8%, with 79.8% for stage I, 51.6% for stage II, 33.5% for stage III and 0% for stage IV patients.

CONCLUSION

Diagnosis of thymoma still depends on both clinical and pathological findings, which are correlated with stage. The principal treatment is to resect the tumor as completely as possible so as to relieve the symptoms and prolong the life of the patient.