What is the survival rate of thymic carcinoma?
5-year relative survival rates for thymus cancer
| SEER Stage | 5-Year Relative Survival Rate |
|---|---|
| Localized | 93% |
| Regional | 79% |
| Distant | 40% |
| All SEER stages combined | 71% |
How serious is thymoma cancer?
Most thymomas have the potential to behave like a cancer and spread beyond the thymus, but many appear to behave in a benign fashion and are noninvasive. Less commonly, it appears to have spread beyond the thymus. People sometimes refer to such an invasive thymoma as malignant thymoma.
What is thymus carcinoma?
Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are diseases in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the thymus. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma, also called thymic epithelial tumors (TETs), are two types of rare cancers that can form in the cells that cover the outside surface of the thymus.
How common are Thymomas?
Most tumors that begin in the thymus are thymoma, but overall, thymoma is uncommon. Less than 1 person out of 1.5 million people develops thymoma. This means about 400 people per year develop thymoma.
What is the difference between thymoma and thymic carcinoma?
Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are two different types of thymus cancer. Thymoma is usually a slow-growing tumor that often does not spread beyond the thymus gland. It is the most common tumor seen in the anterior mediastinum in adults. Thymic carcinoma, on the other hand, is less common but more aggressive.
Where does thymic carcinoma spread to?
Occasionally, it can spread to the lining of the lung, called the pleura. Less often, it can spread to other parts of the body. Thymic carcinoma (see Stages) also starts in the thymus. It is more likely to spread to the lining of the lungs and other parts of the body.
Can you survive thymic carcinoma?
If the thymic cancer is located only in the thymus, the 5-year survival rate is 92%. If the cancer has spread to surrounding tissues or organs and/or the regional lymph nodes, the 5-year survival rate is 77%. If the cancer has spread to distant parts of the body, the 5-year survival rate is 31%.