Surgical treatment of an invasive thymoma extending into the superior vena cava and right atrium

World J Surg Oncol. 2014 Jan 8:12:6. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-12-6.

Abstract

Although invasive thymoma commonly infiltrates neighbouring mediastinal structures, its extension into the superior vena cava (SVC) and consequent SVC occlusion are rare. In such cases, the urgent removal of the thymoma and radical resection of the infiltrated SVC representreasonable options, since induction therapy is time-consuming and useless for symptom resolution. A case of invasive thymoma extending into the SVC and right atrium (RA) with SVC syndrome is reported. The patient underwent a combined resection of the invasive tumor and SVC under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), and the SVC and bilateral brachiocephalic vein (BCV) were reconstructed with an autologous pericardial 'Y' conduit. After 40 months of follow-up, the patient showed a patent graft and no tumor recurrence.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Atria / pathology
  • Heart Atria / surgery*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Prognosis
  • Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / pathology
  • Superior Vena Cava Syndrome / surgery*
  • Thymoma / pathology
  • Thymoma / surgery*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed