Invasive spindle cell thymomas (WHO Type A): a clinicopathologic correlation of 41 cases

We report 41 cases of invasive spindle cell thymomas (World Health Organization type A). The patients were 16 women and 25 men between the ages of 38 and 80 years. Clinically, the patients had diverse symptomatology, including chest pain, cough, and dyspnea. None of the patients had a history of myasthenia gravis. According to the Mazaoka surgical staging system, 34 patients had stage II disease, 6 had stage III, and 1 had stage IV. Follow-up information showed that 30 patients were alive after a period ranging from 12 to 96 months; for 8 patients who are alive, the follow-up was less than 12 months; 1 patient died 10 months after initial diagnosis. For 2 patients, no follow-up information was obtained. This study stresses the fact that histologic features do not correlate with invasion or encapsulation because all thymomas, regardless of their histologic type, are capable of invasion.