Octreotide in the treatment of malignant thymoma - Case report

Thymomas are the most common mediastinal tumors. Systemic therapy for patients with unresectable or recurrent thymomas is a challenging field in the current oncology research. There is some evidence that somatostatin analogs combined with corticosteroids may have a role in the treatment of advanced malignant thymoma; however, the role of these agents have not been fully evaluated.

A 39-year-old man with metastatic thymoma was administered long-acting depot injection form of octreotide. Octreotide scan before the treatment initiation revealed low uptake. CT control after three months of the treatment revealed marked regression of pleural metastases, while the primary tumor mass remained stable. The treatment response was lasting for 9 months.

We describe an interesting case of marked clinical and radiological response of advanced malignant thymoma to the treatment with octreotide in a heavily pre-treated patient, even though octreotide scan revealed low uptake.