Ten thymic tumours are described (7 thymomas, 1 lymphosarcoma, 1 lymphoepithelioma, 1 cylindrocellular carcinoma). Two asymptomatic thymomas were casually detected by mass radiography and a roentgenological investigation. In 1 case symptoms had been present for 10 years, in 1 for 5 years, and in the others for 3 years to 40 days.
Myasthenia was present in 2 thymomas: in 1 of them the patient treated with prostigmine was able to begin pregnancy and to bring it to term.
The clinical and radiological diagnosis was correct in 4 cases. The tumour was located in 6 cases in the anterosuperior mediastinum, in 3 in the antero-inferior mediastinum, in 1 in the hilar region.
Radical treatment was possible in 3 patients; two of them are alive after 3 and 4 years from operation, the third had a recurrence 9 months after the operation.
In 3 cases pleuropulmonary metastases occurred. Roentgen-therapy produced tumour reduction in 3 cases and decrease of the myasthenic condition in 1.
Thymomas are easily distinguishable from the other thymic tumours, and those with myasthenia show a higher cellular differentiation. Radiotherapy must be employed as a complement of surgery or when the latter is contraindicated.
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