[Surgical treatment of thymoma]

This paper presented 6 cases of thymomas, surgically treated at the Newcastle Regional Cardiothoracic Surgical Service-England during the period 1970-1971. Excision of the tumour alone was carried-out in two patients. In the remaining four, a thymectomy and removal of the tumour was performed. In one case histological appearance suggested malignancy. The author insists upon an early excision, because the because the benign thymomas are potentially malignant tumours and the possibility of recurrence can be more effectively prevented by thymectomy at the same time. The coincidence of thyretoxicosis and thymoma, respectively aplastic anaemia and thymoma, were presented in 2 patients. To date, all patients have been well.