The thymus gland is a small organ at the front of the chest, under the top of the sternum. It is part of the lymphatic system in the immune system. The thymus gland produces white blood cells called lymphocytes, which help the body fight infection.
Thymus cancer occurs when cancer cells form on the outer surface of the thymus. According to National Cancer Institutethe growth of cancer cells in the outer layer of the thymus is called thymic epithelial tumor (TET). Reported Medical News Todaytwo main types of TET:
- Timoma: Thymoma cancer cells look much like regular thymus cells. They grow slowly and rarely spread beyond the thymus.
- Thymic carcinoma: These cancer cells look very different from ordinary thymus cells. They grow faster and have a greater potential to spread beyond the thymus. About 1 in 5 TET is thymic carcinoma.
Thymus cancer is rare. A person is more likely to develop it if they have another disease, such as myasthenia gravislupus, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Sometimes, thymus cancer does not cause symptoms. Other times, thymus cancer can cause a cough that doesn’t go away, difficulty breathing, and chest pain.
1. Cause
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All cancers occur when cells develop abnormally. They may grow too fast, reproduce too easily, or live too long. Abnormal cell development stems from genetic changes. Some people are born with a cancer-causing genetic change, while others get it for life.
Doctors know what drives the cancer-causing genetic changes for some types of cancer, but not for TET (thymus cancer). Scientists aren’t sure about the risk factors for TET either. According to American Cancer Society, studies have not disclosed lifestyle or environmental risk factors associated with TET. Many demographic factors, such as gender, also appear to be irrelevant to TET risk.
Reported Medical News Today, there are two known risk factors for TET:
- Age: TET becomes more common with age. This cancer is most common in people who are in their 70s.
- Ethnicity: In the United States, TET is most common in Asian and Pacific Islander descent, least in whites and Latinos.
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2. Symptoms
illustration of thymus cancer symptoms (freepik.com/benzoix)
TET is often asymptomatic. However, any symptoms experienced often reflect the location of the TET. Symptoms of thymoma and thymic carcinoma include:
- Persistent cough.
- Chest pain.
- Hard to breathe.
- Hoarseness.
- Swelling of the face, neck, upper body or arms.
People with thymoma can also experience paraneoplastic syndromes, such as muscle weakness. This syndrome occurs when the immune system reacts to cancer and kills both cancer cells and healthy cells.
Myasthenia gravis is the most common paraneoplastic syndrome associated with thymoma. According to estimates, 30 percent to 40 percent of people with thymoma experience symptoms myasthenia gravis. This includes:
- The eyelids droop.
- Double vision.
- Weakness of limbs.
- Difficulty chewing, speaking, breathing and swallowing.
A person with these symptoms of thymoma should immediately see a doctor.
3. Diagnosis
CT scan illustration (freepik.com/freepik)
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Doctors use various tests to diagnose thymoma or thymic carcinoma. The types of diagnostic tests for the two main types of TET are imaging tests and biopsies.
Imaging tests will produce images of the patient’s thymus and its surroundings. If this test shows an abnormal growth, then the doctor will recommend further tests. Imaging tests include:
- Shinar-X.
- MRI scan.
- CT scan.
- PET scan.
A biopsy involves taking a sample of suspicious-looking thymus tissue for testing in a laboratory. A thymus biopsy is needed for doctors to make a diagnosis of TET. However, a biopsy may not be needed if imaging tests clearly show a thymoma. Instead, your doctor may recommend removing any tissue that looks suspicious for laboratory analysis.
4. Treatment
chemotherapy illustration (freepik.com/freepik)
Treatment options depend on the type of thymus cancer you have, test results, and the stage of the cancer. The goal of treatment can be to cure the patient, control the cancer, or help relieve problems caused by the cancer.
This type of cancer treatment is local or systemic. Local treatment to remove, destroy, or control cancer cells in one area. Surgery and radiation are examples of local treatment. Systemic treatments are used to destroy or control cancer cells that may have spread throughout the patient’s body.
Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment. Patients may have one treatment or a combination of treatments. Thymus cancer can be treated by:
- Operation.
- Radiation therapy.
- Chemotherapy.
Talk to your doctor about treatment options, including the benefits and possible side effects of each treatment your doctor suggests. Also discuss any concerns about treatment options with your doctor before making a decision.
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