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Types of Cancer > Miscellaneous/Other Diseases > Thymoma > Support
Thymoma: The Basics
Charles Wood, MD
Affiliation:
The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: August 14, 2005
What is thymoma?
Thymoma is a rare tumor of the thymus gland, which is a small organ that lies under the breastbone and is part of the immune system. The thymus is responsible for the development of lymphocytes, which are cells that travel through the body and help to fight infection. Thymoma is usually a slow-growing tumor that does not typically spread beyond the thymus gland.
Thymic carcinoma, on the other hand, is less common but more aggressive. It is generally more difficult to treat because it tends to spread quickly to other areas of the body.
Who gets thymoma?
The cause of thymoma is unknown, and the risk factors have not been identified. It affects men and women equally, most often in the fourth and fifth decades of life. People with thymoma commonly have other diseases of the immune system. The one most often seen in association with thymoma is myasthenia gravis, a condition that causes the muscles to become weak.
So what are the symptoms?
One-third to one-half of patients may have no symptoms at all. Another one-third of patients may present with symptoms related to disease in the chest, such as cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, hoarseness and trouble swallowing. Finally, the last one-third can present with systemic symptoms related to myasthenia gravis, such as muscle weakness.