Preoperative Proton Beam Therapy for Thymoma: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Radiation Oncology
• Thoracic Surgery

Background:

• Locally advanced thymoma presents challenges for complete resection due to potential toxicity with conventional radiation.
• Proton beam therapy offers precise radiation delivery, sparing organs at risk.

Observation:

• A 31-year-old woman presented with a large, locally advanced thymoma (Type B3).
• Standard photon therapy was deemed high-risk due to proximity to the heart and lungs.

Findings:

• Preoperative proton beam therapy significantly decreased tumor volume.
• Complete tumor resection was successfully achieved following neoadjuvant proton therapy.
• The patient experienced no severe adverse events 24 months post-treatment.

Implications:

• Preoperative proton beam therapy is a viable strategy for locally advanced thymoma.
• This modality facilitates tumor downstaging and complete resection while mitigating radiation-induced toxicity.
• Further investigation into proton therapy for thymoma is warranted.