single centre experience in the management of thymic tumours

background : thymoma and thymic carcinoma are relatively rare tumours of the anterior mediastinum. optimum treatment options for these tumours remain unresolved, although at present, a multimodality approach involving aggressive surgical resection, platinum-based combination chemotherapeutic interventions and radiotherapy represents the preferred therapeutic approach. 1-3 this study evaluates the treatment outcome of patients with thymic tumours at our centre. methods : we retrospectively reviewed clinical case notes, electronic patient records, imaging and radiation treatment records of patients treated at clatterbridge cancer centre. results : a total of 21 patients diagnosed with thymic tumours were treated at clatterbridge cancer centre between june 1990 until june 2011. there were 12 (57%) out of 21 patients who received multimodality therapy (chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and/or surgery), 7 (34%) received single modality treatment and 2 (9%) did not receive any treatment. relapse occurred in 10 (47%) patients with a median time from primary diagnosis to relapse of 28 months (10 to 104 months). among those who relapsed, 6 died with a median survival of 58 months (53 to 64 months). out of 12 patients in the multimodality treatment group, 9 (75%) remain alive with a median follow up of 45 months. in 7 patients who received single mode therapy, 5 (71%) died with a median survival of 45 months. 2 patients who did not receive any treatment died. overall median survival in 10 of 21 patients who died was 42 months (2 to 192 months). conclusion : multimodality treatment for thymic tumours represents the preferred therapeutic approach and should be considered in suitable patients. further randomized trials are necessary to define the optimum treatment options.