Abstract
We present 2 cases of a large thymoma with invasion to the hilum of the lung and pleural dissemination. Case 1: a 47-year-old woman was diagnosed with a type B3 thymoma with abundant left pleural effusion and multiple pleural masses, Masaoka stage IVa. A radical resection was planned after chemical pleurodesis and systemic chemotherapy. The left main pulmonary artery and left upper and inferior veins were dissected and resected in the pericardium, while the left main bronchus was cut behind the pericardium through a median sternotomy. Next, the median incision was closed and a left posterolateral thoracotomy was made, thus allowing the pleuropneumonectomy to be safely performed. Case 2: a 47-year-old woman was diagnosed with a type B3 thymoma with lymph node swelling and multiple pleural masses, indicating Masaoka stage IVb. Following induction chemotherapy, a thymothymectomy combined with a right pleuropneumonectomy was performed under a median sternotomy followed by a right posterolateral thoracotomy. The left brachiocephalic vein (BCV) was reconstructed with a ringed polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft, followed by resection of the right BCV. Next, the right main pulmonary artery and right upper and inferior veins were resected in the pericardium, and the right main bronchus was cut behind the pericardium, followed by reconstruction of the right BCV. Finally, the median incision was closed and a right posterolateral thoracotomy was made, thus allowing performance of a safe pleuropneumonectomy. The median sternotomy allowed safe dissection of pulmonary vessels surrounding the hilum of the lung and, in combination with a posterolateral thoracotomy, was required for performing a pleuropneumonectomy in patients with a huge thymoma with pleural dissemination.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40792-015-0071-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
A Masaoka stage IV thymoma is defined as a tumor with pleura or pericardial dissemination, while standard treatment for affected patients has not been established [1]
The left main pulmonary artery and left upper and inferior veins in the pericardium were resected. We considered it difficult to excise the left main bronchus through a left posterolateral thoracotomy because the tumor invaded the hilum of the lung; the left main bronchus was cut behind the pericardium through a median sternotomy (Additional file 1: Video 1)
The median sternotomy allowed safe dissection of pulmonary vessels surrounding the hilum of the lung and, in combination with a posterolateral thoracotomy, was required for performing a pleuropneumonectomy in patients with a huge thymoma with pleural dissemination
Summary
A Masaoka stage IV thymoma is defined as a tumor with pleura or pericardial dissemination, while standard treatment for affected patients has not been established [1]. We report two patients with a stage IV thymoma successfully treated with chemotherapy followed by a radical resection with a pleuropneumonectomy through anterior approach combined with posterolateral thoracotomy
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