[Treatment of thymic tumor]

The treatment of thymoma, thymic cancer and thymic germ cell tumor was reviewed in the literature. The major treatment of thymoma is surgery with or without radiation. The chemotherapy for the thymoma is now investigated in the world. CDDP, ADM, VCR, CPA or BLM are usually used, but the most effective combination of these drugs is not known. Thymic cancer is a rarer and more malignant disease than thymoma. Though the postoperative treatment is investigated as well as thymoma, only a few successful cases by chemotherapy have been reported. Chemotherapy (PVB, VAB-6, PEB) for testicular germ cell tumor is also effective for thymic germ cell tumor including seminoma. Though the combination therapy of radiation and surgery has been popular, chemotherapy will be used more frequently for seminoma in future.