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Thymus Gland Pathology pp 229–239Cite as

Radiotherapy in Thymic Neoplasms

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Abstract

The role of adjuvant radiotherapy in thymic tumors has not been explicitly defined. Since epithelial thymic tumors are relatively radiosensitive, many clinicians advocate the use of adjuvant radiation therapy in all cases, in addition to those cases where there is extension beyond the capsule [1]–[4]. Justification for adjuvant radiation is based on studies showing decreased recurrence rates for stage II disease with adjuvant therapy from 30% to 5% [5, 6]. Other groups suggest that, due to the low incidence of local recurrence after complete resection of stage II thymomas, radiation therapy should be reserved for selected patients [7]–[10]. Schmidt-Wolf [11] proposed that adjuvant external-beam radiotherapy should be considered only for stages II and III disease where there were extensive adhesions between tumor and pleura, microscopic pleural infiltration, or macroscopic invasion of the pericardium, large vessels, or lung. In addition, Chen [12] noted that completely resected stage II thymomas of WHO subtype A, AB, and B–I may not require adjuvant therapy.

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  1. Department of Radiation Oncology Health Science Center San Antonio and Cancer Therapy and Research Center, University of Texas, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Tony Y. Eng, Aidnag Z. Diaz & Join Y. Luh

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  1. Tony Y. Eng
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  2. Aidnag Z. Diaz
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  3. Join Y. Luh
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery and Surgical Specialities Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia General Hospital, Modena, Italy

    Corrado Lavini  & Uliano Morandi  & 

  2. Institute of Thoracic Pathology, University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Cesar A. Moran

  3. Division of Neurology, Bolzano Hospital, Bolzano, Italy

    Rudolf Schoenhuber

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Eng, T.Y., Diaz, A.Z., Luh, J.Y. (2008). Radiotherapy in Thymic Neoplasms. In: Lavini, C., Moran, C.A., Morandi, U., Schoenhuber, R. (eds) Thymus Gland Pathology. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-0828-1_27

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