Spindle-Cell Thymoma
A thymoma is a cancer that develop in the thymus gland, which is found under the breastbone. This small gland is active producing defense cells (lymphocytes) during childhood and adolescence, as stated by Charles Wood, MD, at the OncoLink website.
The classification of thymomas has been subject of debate, according to the Foundation for Thymic Cancer Research. However, the National Cancer Institute defined a spindle cell cancer as the tumor that contains long spindle-shaped cells, which often begins in the skin or in tissues that cover internal organs.
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Controversial Classification
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Thymomas can be classified by different systems, depending on which characteristics are observed. One of these systems uses the shape of cells to differentiate cancers of the thymus, and identifies spindle-cell thymomas as those that have spindle-shaped cells (wide in the middle and tapering in the extremities).
However, to avoid misunderstandings when classifying thymic cancers, the World Health Organization (WHO) has created a classification system based in all previous systematic organization, as stated in the Foundation for Thymic Cancer Research's website. According to this information, spindle-cell thymomas can also be called type A thymoma.
Symptoms
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As reported by the Foundation for Thymic Cancer Research, approximately 30 percent of patients with thymoma present no symptoms when the disease is diagnosed. If there are symptoms, they include persistent coughing, chest pain, muscular weakness, upper airway congestion, fatigue, arm or facial swelling, anemia, shortness of breath, difficulty swallowing and increased risk of infection.
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Diagnosis
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Thymoma can be diagnosed through X-ray or computed tomographic (CT) images of the chest, as stated by Wood at OncoLink. Biopsy, an extraction of a sample of the tumor for microscopic analysis, is sometimes necessary before a complete diagnosis.
Prognosis
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The prognosis depends on the stage of the disease. Observing the Masaoka system cited by Wood at OncoLink, there is a five-year survival rate, according to the stage of the cancer.
In the Masaoka system, there is 96 percent of survival change, if the cancer is diagnosed during Stage I (the tumor has not invaded the surroundings of the gland); 86 percent when in Stage II (it has spread beyond the gland or the lining of the lung cavity); 69 percent in Stage III (it has invaded close organs, such as the lungs and vessels next to the heart); 50 percent when in Stage IV (it has spread deep into nearby organs or others, through the lymphatic system or bloodstream).
Treatment
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Surgery, when the tumor can be completely removed, is recommended for Stages I, II and III. As thymomas are sensitive to radiation, the use of radiotherapy is also advisable, sometimes as a complementing therapy after the surgical removal. This treatment is also done in order to reduce the chances of recurrence of the tumor.
Chemotherapy with cisplatin, doxorubicin and ifosfamide is often used in the advanced stage of the disease. Sometimes, corticosteroids are also used, but they don't constitute chemotherapeutic treatment, Wood stated at OncoLink.
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