Thymoma / Thymic Carcinoma

Expert-reviewed information summary about the treatment of thymoma and thymic carcinoma.Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma (PDQ®): TreatmentThymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Treatment

General Information About Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma

Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are diseases in which malignant (cancer) cells form on the outside surface of the thymus.

The thymus, a small organ that lies in the upper chest under the breastbone, is part of the lymph system. It makes white blood cells, called lymphocytes, that protect the body against infections.

There are different types of tumors of the thymus. Thymomas and thymic carcinomas are rare tumors of the cells that are on the outside surface of the thymus. The tumor cells in a thymoma look similar to the normal cells of the thymus, grow slowly, and rarely spread beyond the thymus. On the other hand, the tumor cells in a thymic carcinoma look very different from the normal cells of the thymus, grow more quickly, and have usually spread to other parts of the body when the cancer is found. Thymic carcinoma is more difficult to treat than thymoma.

Having a disease called myasthenia gravis can affect the risk of developing thymoma.

People with thymoma often have other diseases as well. These diseases may include myasthenia gravis, polymyositis, lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, Sjogren syndrome, and hypogammaglobulinemia.