Yonsei Med J.  2013 Jul;54(4):875-882. 10.3349/ymj.2013.54.4.875.

Predictors of Recurrence after Thymoma Resection

• Bae MK
• Lee CY
• Lee JG
• Park IK
• Kim DJ
• Yang WI
• Chung KY

• KMID: 2158220
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.2013.54.4.875

Abstract

PURPOSE
Recurrence rate is considered a better measure of clinical outcomes after thymoma resection than overall survival due to the indolent behavior of thymomas. This study was designed to determine predictors of recurrence after thymoma resection.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A single-institution, retrospective study was performed, including 305 patients who had undergone thymoma resection between 1986 and 2009.
RESULTS
Among 305 patients, recurrence was observed in 41 patients (13.4%). The recurrence rates were 0% (0/19), 6.3% (4/63), 4.2% (2/48), 18.6% (11/59) and 20.7% (24/116) for type A, AB, B1, B2 and B3 tumors, respectively. The recurrence rate according to Masaoka stage was 6.1% (8/132), 11.4% (13/114), 26.8% (11/41) and 50.0% (9/18) for stages I, II, III and IV, respectively. After univariate analysis, completeness of resection (R0 versus R1), World Health Organization (WHO) histologic type (A, AB, B1 versus B2, B3), Masaoka stage, and size of tumor (<8 cm versus > or =8 cm) demonstrated significant differences with freedom from recurrence. Upon multivariate analysis, Masaoka stage was the only independent predictor of recurrence.
CONCLUSION
WHO histologic type, Masaoka stage, and size of tumor were associated with recurrence. Particularly, Masaoka stage was the only independent predictor of recurrence after thymoma resection.

Keyword

Thymoma; surgery; outcomes

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Multivariate Analysis
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/epidemiology/*etiology
Retrospective Studies
Thymoma/mortality/*pathology/*surgery
Thymus Neoplasms/mortality/*pathology/*surgery
Young Adult

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The overall survival of patients who underwent thymoma resection. The 5-, 10- and 15-year survival rates were 89.8, 82.9 and 74.9%, respectively.

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  Fig. 2 Freedom from recurrence curves according to completeness of resection (A), WHO histological classification (B), Masaoka stage (C), size of tumor (D) and adjuvant therapy (E).

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