Advanced inoperable type B3 thymoma: monitoring of a novel therapeutic approach with radio-chemotherapy and sorafenib by FDG-PET and CT.

摘要

Invasive thymic epithelial tumours (TET) are rare tumours. Thymomas and thymic carcinomas (TCa) together represent about 0.2-1.5% of malignancies, and 20% of malignant mediastinal tumours (5). TCa's are extremely rare and account for approximately 0.06% of thymic neoplasms (6). However, 86% of type B3 thymomas (REA) (14) and all TCa are invasive, with a high risk of relapse and death (2,12). Given the rarity of advanced disease and the variability in clinical presentation, therapeutic modalities in patients with invasive TET are difficult. Radical surgery still remains the most important factor for survival, but radiation and chemotherapy have been applied widely as adjuvant or palliative procedures (7,3). However, advanced TET still represents a challenge in medical oncology.