Definition:
In medicine (oncology), thymoma is a tumor progressing from the thymus. It is made up of any type of thymic epithelial cell as well as lymphocytes that are typically abundant and probably not neoplastic.
Diagnosis:
If the suspicion is high, some blood tests are often done to look for associated problems or possible spread. These include: full blood count, electrolytes, protein electrophoresis, antibodies to the acetylcholine receptor (indicative of myasthenia), liver enzymes and renal function
Treatment:
Surgery is the primary of treatment for thymoma. If the tumor is malignant and very large, chemotherapy may be needed to shrink the tumor before surgery is attempted. If the tumor was harmless and was removed completely, no further therapy is necessary.
Symptoms and Signs:
A third of all people with a thymoma have symptoms because of compression of the surrounding organs by an expansive mass. This may take the form of superior vena cava syndrome (compression of the upper caval vein), dysphagia (or a difficulty swallowing), cough or chest pain.
Causes:
Thymoma starts from the epithelial cell population in the thymus. Many subtypes are identified, some of which have a better- or worse-than-general prognosis
The information on this site is for research purposes only and can not substitute for the advice of a medical professional. Ailments.com is not run by doctors and does not engage in the practice of medicine. Our site is not a medical authority, it is just a research tool for you to use in preparation for consulting with a doctor. We can not guarantee our information is accurate or up to date. Even if a statement made about a medical condition is accurate, it may not apply to you or your symptoms, so you should always consult a doctor. Nothing on our site should be construed as an attempt to offer or render a medical opinion or otherwise engage in the practice of medicine.
