Diagnosis of Thymus Cancer

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Diagnosis of Thymus Cancer

Fri, 15 Dec 2023

Thymus Cancer: Best Diagnosis and Prognosis by Dr. Arvind Kumar

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.

Thymus Cancer: Things to Know

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.

Types Of Thymus Cancer

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.

  • Epithelial Cells: The cancer formed in the epithelial cells of the thymus is called thymic epithelial tumor (TET). These cells form two types of cancer, namely thymoma and thymic carcinoma.
  • Lymphocytes: Cancer in the lymphocytes of the thymus leads to Hogdkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, which aren’t primarily a type of thymus cancer.

Among the different forms of cancer mentioned above, two fall under the aegis of thymus cancer.

Thymoma

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:

  • Myasthenia gravis (affects nerve and muscle cells and causes muscle weakness)
  • Hypogammaglobulinemia (reduced antibody production leading to a weakened immune system)
  • Pure red cell aplasia (low red blood cell production in the bone marrow)
  • Lupus erythematosus (immune cells attack healthy self-cells of a target organ)

Thymic Carcinoma

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. 

Symptoms of Thymus Cancer

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:

  • Persistent coughing
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Breathing difficulty
  • Chest pain
  • Loss of appetite
  • Unexplained weight loss

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:

  • Constant sensation of pressure on the chest
  • Swelling in the neck and face
  • Swelling in arms and hands
  • Visible veins in the upper body

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.

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:

Routine physical tests

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.

Imaging tests

At Medanta, we have the latest technology equipment that provides high-precision imaging. The common imaging tests for thymus cancer diagnosis include:

  • Chest X-ray: It can help notice any abnormal growth on or around the thymus gland.
  • CAT Scan: This is the most common and usually the only imaging test done for this purpose. We sometimes use a harmless dye to create better contrast in the imaging.
  • MRI Scan: It helps obtain precise and more detailed imaging results for better evaluation.
  • PET Scan: It employs a harmless radioactive sugar injected into the veins for better viewing and evaluation.

Biopsy

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.

Prognosis of Thymus Cancer

The outlook for thymus cancer depends on the following factors:

  • Type of thymus cancer
  • Stage of cancer
  • The stage at which cancer is diagnosed
  • Age and overall health status of the individual

While the outlook for every case varies, the average 5-year survival rate is as follows:

  • If cancer is restricted to the thymus: 95%
  • If cancer has spread to lymph nodes and nearby organs: 78%
  • If cancer has spread to distant body parts: 38%
  • Regardless of the stage, the general survival rate is 72%

Get the Best Diagnosis and Prognosis for Thymus Cancer in Gurgaon and Delhi

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.