Diagnostics (Jul 2022)

Does Myasthenia Gravis Affect Long-Term Survival in Thymic Carcinomas? An ESTS Database Analysis

  • Filippo Lococo,
  • Dania Nachira,
  • Marco Chiappetta,
  • Jessica Evangelista,
  • Pierre Emmanuel Falcoz,
  • Enrico Ruffini,
  • Paul Van Schil,
  • Marco Scarci,
  • Jòzsef Furàk,
  • Francesco Sollitto,
  • Francesco Guerrera,
  • Lorenzo Spaggiari,
  • Clemens Aigner,
  • Liverakou Evangelia,
  • Andrea Billè,
  • Bernhard Moser,
  • Pascal Alexandre Thomas,
  • Moishe Liberman,
  • Souheil Boubia,
  • Alessio Campisi,
  • Luca Ampollini,
  • Alper Toker,
  • Attila Enyed,
  • Luca Voltolini,
  • Dirk Van Raemdonck,
  • Stefano Margaritora,
  • ESTS Thymic Working Group

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics12071764
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 7
p. 1764

Abstract

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Background: Thymic carcinoma is a rare and highly malignant tumor with a dismal prognosis, which occasionally coexists with myasthenia gravis (MG). This study aims to investigate the MG incidence on a surgical cohort of patients with thymic carcinoma and to explore its influence on long-term survival. Methods: the prospectively collected data from the ESTS database on thymic epithelial tumors were reviewed. Clinical, pathological, and survival information on thymic carcinoma were analyzed. Results: the analysis was conducted on 203 patients, with an equal gender distribution (96 males and 107 females). MG was detected in 22 (10.8%) patients, more frequently elderly (>60 years, p = 0.048) and male (p = 0.003). Induction therapy was performed in 22 (10.8%) cases. After surgery, 120 (59.1%) patients had a Masaoka stage II–III while complete resection (R0) was achieved in 158 (77.8%). Adjuvant therapy was performed in 68 cases. Mean follow-up was 60 (SD = 14) months. The 3-year, 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 79%, 75% and 63%, respectively. MG did not seem to influence long-term survival (5-year survival in non-MG–TCs 78% vs. 50% in MG–TCs, p = ns) as age < 60 years, female gender, early Masaoka stage, and postoperative radiotherapy did, conversely. Conclusions: myasthenia occurred in about 10% of thymic carcinomas and it did not seem to affect significantly the long-term prognosis in surgically treated thymic carcinoma-patients.

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