Pleuropneumonectomy for stage IVa thymoma: delayed metastatic spread after multimodality treatment

Updates Surg. 2012 Dec;64(4):323-5. doi: 10.1007/s13304-011-0124-1. Epub 2011 Nov 22.

Abstract

We report a case of a caucasic woman aged 55, carrying a Masaoka stage IVa thymoma, initially not suitable to surgical treatment. After induction chemotheraphy, she underwent a radical resection of the mediastinal mass combined with left pleuro-pneumonectomy. After being disease-free for 5 years, the patient first developed a splenic recurrence, then an abdominal metastasis, both treated by surgery. To date she is alive and disease-free, 10 years after the first operation. The patient underwent multimodal treatment only after the first surgical operation, while the recurrences were only treated surgically. The exceptional nature of our case lies mainly in the site of the metastases (first the spleen, then the omentum), then in the long disease-free period, and in the final outcome which was beyond all expectations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Abdominal Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Abdominal Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Abdominal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Adult
  • Combined Modality Therapy / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pleura / surgery*
  • Pneumonectomy / methods*
  • Reoperation
  • Splenic Neoplasms / diagnosis
  • Splenic Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Splenic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Thymectomy / methods*
  • Thymoma / diagnosis
  • Thymoma / secondary
  • Thymoma / surgery*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Time Factors