Thymic carcinoma recurring 11 years post-extended surgery: a case report.

Area of Science:

• Thoracic oncology
• Surgical oncology
• Cancer research

Background:

• Thymic carcinoma (TC) is a rare thymic epithelial tumor with a poor prognosis, especially in advanced stages.
• Late recurrences (>10 years post-surgery) are uncommon but documented.
• Outcomes following aortic resection for TC are rarely reported.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of late recurrence of thymic carcinoma.
• To highlight the importance of long-term surveillance for TC patients.
• To discuss the role of aortic resection in managing advanced TC.

Main Methods:

• A 68-year-old male with Masaoka stage III thymic squamous cell carcinoma received neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
• The patient underwent extensive surgery including ascending aorta and superior vena cava resection.
• Long-term follow-up revealed late metastatic recurrence 11 years post-surgery.

Main Results:

• The patient achieved a 10-year disease-free survival after initial treatment for advanced thymic carcinoma.
• Metastatic lesions were confirmed in the left lung 11 years after surgery.
• The case demonstrates the possibility of late recurrence despite initial successful treatment and major surgery.

Conclusions:

• Long-term monitoring beyond 5 years is crucial for thymic carcinoma patients due to the risk of late recurrence.
• Carefully selected aortic resection can be part of a strategy for favorable long-term outcomes in advanced TC.
• This case contributes to the limited literature on long-term TC prognosis after major vascular resection.