Excision after chemoradiotherapy of invasive thymoma extending into the right atrium: report of a case

We report a case of invasive thymoma with intracardiac extension, resulting from the progression of intracaval growth, in a 56-year-old woman. Initially, the patient received two courses of chemotherapy, but the tumor showed only a modest response; however, subsequent radiotherapy reduced the tumor size further and the intracardiac lesion disappeared, making it possible to excise the tumor without cardiopulmonary bypass. Thus, when a thymoma does not respond well, we recommend radiotherapy as another treatment option, because its effects may allow for less invasive and more complete tumor excision.