[Extensive surgical resection in the treatment of invasive thymoma]

In 10%-15% of patients, myasthenia gravis is associated with thymoma. Because of its site, this tumour can have an un-noticed clinical history over a considerable time and be diagnosed when adjacent structures such as mediastinal vessels, heart or trachea become infiltrated. We present a patient with thymoma and infiltration of the superior vena cava, and which represents an incipient vena cava syndrome. The surgical treatment consisted of complete resection of the tumour including partial replacement of the vena cava with a pericardial patch. The surgery was complemented with radiotherapy.