Treatment strategy and prognostic analysis of spinal metastases from thymomas: A retrospective study from a single center

Abstract

ObjectiveThymomas are rare in clinical practice, and cases of metastatic spinal thymoma are extremely scarce, with only a few case reports or case series described in the literature. In this study, we characterized the clinical features, treatment options and prognostic analysis of patients with metastatic spinal thymomas. Patients and methodsThis study included seven patients with metastatic spinal thymoma who underwent open surgery or minimally invasive surgery, and adjuvant treatment in a single center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital from 2010 to 2019. The basic clinical data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. The possible prognostic factors of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were studied using the Kaplan–Meier method. ResultsThis retrospective study included six male patients and one female patient, with a median age of 58.4 (47–75) years. The time from initial diagnosis to detection of spinal metastasis was 54.2 (30–108) months. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed the number of spinal metastasis and adjuvant therapies were favorable factors for improving OS and PFS in patients with metastatic spinal thymomas. ConclusionRadiation therapy after the primary operation is an efficient adjuvant therapy, since patients who received postoperative radiation treatment have longer OS and PFS than those who receive chemoradiotherapy. The number of spinal metastases seems to be an effective prognostic factor for longer OS and PFS of patients with spinal metastasis of thymoma.