MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), MNAMS, FACS (USA), FICS (USA), FUICC
Fri, 15 Dec 2023
The thymus is a small gland and an eminent part of the human immune system. And like all other organs, it is not immune to the deadly disease of cancer. While not often seen, thymus cancer is as concerning as any other form of this disease. Another factor to ponder in this case is that it has no distinguishing symptoms and a high chance of misdiagnosis.
You can put these concerns to rest if you have the guidance and care of an expert. Dr. Arvind Kumar is a renowned thoracic surgeon and provides the best thymus cancer surgery in Gurgaon. He has over 40 years of experience in performing thoracic surgeries of varying complexities and techniques. Visit Medanta Hospital to get the most reliable diagnosis, expert treatment, and a good prognosis in Gurgaon and Delhi by Dr. Arvind Kumar.
Read on for more details about our diagnostic and surgical services for thymus cancer.
The thymus is a small gland located right beneath your breastbone at the center of your chest. This is the location for the production and maturation of special white blood cells or lymphocytes called T lymphocytes. These lymphocytes are the fighter cells of your immune system and protect you from invading pathogens, toxins, and other detrimental substances.
The cancerous growth on or around the thymus is referred to as thymus cancer. These tumor cells are abnormal as compared to the healthy cells and divide very rapidly. Thymus cancer could be slow-growing or aggressive and restricted to a certain area or spread to different parts of the body. This depends on the type and nature of the cancerous cells.
The thymus gland consists of two types of cells: the epithelial cells and the lymphocytes. Both these cell types can mutate or grow abnormally to form cancer. However, they develop different forms and types of this disease.
Among the different forms of cancer mentioned above, two fall under the aegis of thymus cancer.
Thymoma is the more laid-back form of thymus cancer. Here, the tumor grows relatively slowly and usually doesn’t spread beyond the thymus. It is often associated with other autoimmune disorders, called paraneoplastic syndrome. Some of these disorders include:
Thymic carcinoma is the more aggressive type of thymus cancer. The cells of these tumors grow rapidly and unreliably. There is no specific growth pattern so it is difficult for doctors to determine a more concrete prognosis and poses difficulty during treatment.
Thymus cancer often displays no distinguishable symptoms. Around 4 out of 10 people with this disease experience no symptoms at all. For people who do experience the symptoms, the common ones include:
Due to the placement of the thymus in such a delicate position close to the heart, the growth of tumor cells on it can, in some cases, put pressure on the surrounding blood vessels. In some individuals, the tumor presses down on the vena cava, the primary vein that transports deoxygenated blood to the heart. This leads to a separate set of symptoms that include:
Since these symptoms are fairly common in several different conditions, it usually takes a long time for people to determine or reach the diagnosis of thymus cancer.
In most cases, thymus cancer is detected during the screening or treatment of some other condition. At Medanta, you can avail thorough and accurate testing for regular checkups or to determine the root cause of the issues you are facing.
Common diagnostic methods for thymus cancer at Medanta include:
While it is not a cancer screening method, these tests can help locate any unusual growth or other abnormalities in your health. A more thorough and targeted testing can follow this to determine the issue.
At Medanta, we have the latest technology equipment that provides high-precision imaging. The common imaging tests for thymus cancer diagnosis include:
A cancer diagnosis cannot be confirmed without a biopsy test. Any physical exam or imaging test can detect abnormal growth. However, a biopsy is the only means to determine if the cells of the tumor are cancerous or not. For this, a tissue sample is obtained from the tumor and studied under the microscope for abnormal activities that are not seen in healthy cells.
Dr. Arvind Kumar puts special emphasis on precise diagnosis and accurate evaluation as it paves the way for your treatment. Under his supervision, you can be sure to get accurate and efficient test results.
The outlook for thymus cancer depends on the following factors:
While the outlook for every case varies, the average 5-year survival rate is as follows:
Early detection and accurate diagnosis are undeniably crucial when you’re dealing with cancer. The cutting-edge technology and proficient medical professionals aim to deliver the most accurate and efficient test results and diagnosis. Dr. Arvind Kumar is a renowned expert and surgeon in the medical field. Under his supervision, you can also undergo safe and effective thymus tumor removal surgery.
For more details on the same, book a consultation call with our expert, Dr. Arvind Kumar.
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License Number: U.P State Medical Council (India) No. 27637