What are thymoma and thymic carcinoma?
Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are diseases in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the thymus. The thymus is a small organ that lies under the breastbone. It makes white blood cells called lymphocytes that travel through the body and fight infection. Thymoma is usually a slow-growing tumor that does not spread beyond the thymus. Thymic carcinoma, however, is difficult to treat and generally spreads to other parts of the body. People with thymoma often have other diseases of the immune system, most commonly myasthenia gravis, a disease in which the muscles become weak. A doctor should be seen if a person has the following symptoms: • A cough that won’t go away. • Pain in the chest. • Weakness in the muscles. If there are symptoms, the doctor may take an x-ray of the chest. The doctor may also do a CT scan, a special x-ray that uses a computer to make a picture of part of the body. The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment depend on the stage of the
