[Operation of pleural dissemination of thymoma]

Nine patients underwent operation for pleural dissemination of thymoma and received radiotherapy postoperatively. In 5 patients dissemination was resected along with the invasive thymoma at the initial operation. In 6 patients resection of a part of the diaphragm was needed. In 4 patients recurrent dissemination of thymoma appeared in the phrenico-costal sinus, where not only the location of dissemination but also postoperative radiotherapy had not been performed properly at the time of the previous operation. Seven are alive 2 months to 7 years 10 months after the first operation for dissemination. Two died respectively 7 years and 3 years 5 months after the first operation for dissemination.