What causes thymoma?

The thymus is a very important immune organ, but it is also a site prone to disease. Thymoma is a typical disease. The symptoms of thymoma are not very obvious at the beginning. As the size increases, not only will chest discomfort symptoms such as chest tightness appear, but it may also be accompanied by serious diseases such as myasthenia gravis and simple red blood cell aplasia. It is important to know the cause and prevent it. So, what causes thymoma?

1. Thymic epithelial cells 30%

Thymic tumors originating from thymic epithelial cells or lymphocytes are the most common, accounting for 95% of thymic tumors and ranking 1st to 3rd among all mediastinal tumors. The vast majority of thymomas are benign in histology and cytology, but some of them are invasive in biological behavior and are malignant thymomas. Malignant thymomas also include thymic carcinomas, that is, histology and cytology show typical malignant characteristics.

2. Compression of surrounding organs 30%

Like any mediastinal tumor, the clinical symptoms of thymoma arise from compression of surrounding organs and symptoms unique to the tumor itself - the combined syndrome. Small thymomas often have no clinical complaints and are not easy to detect. When the tumor grows to a certain size, common symptoms are chest pain, chest tightness, cough, and discomfort in the anterior chest. The nature of chest pain is non-characteristic, the degree varies, and the location is not specific. Generally speaking, it is relatively mild and is often treated symptomatically without further examination. Symptoms last for a long time, and some patients undergo X-ray examination, or some patients are found to have mediastinal tumor shadows during physical examination or chest X-ray.

Superior vena cava obstructive syndrome 10%

Thymomas that have been overlooked often grow to a considerable size at this time, compressing the veins or causing symptoms of superior vena cava obstruction syndrome. Severe chest pain, rapid worsening of symptoms in a short period of time, severe irritating cough, dyspnea caused by pleural effusion, palpitations and shortness of breath caused by pericardial effusion, and bone pain throughout the body all indicate the possibility of malignant thymoma or thymic cancer.

Clinical manifestations

The clinical symptoms of thymoma arise from the compression of surrounding organs and the unique symptoms of the tumor itself - the combined syndrome. Small thymomas are often asymptomatic and difficult to detect. When the tumor grows to a certain size, common symptoms are chest pain, chest tightness, cough, and discomfort in the anterior chest. Symptoms last for a long time, and some patients may have mediastinal tumor shadows during X-ray examination or chest X-ray or chest radiography.

The neglected thymoma often grows to a considerable size at this time, compressing the innominate vein or presenting with symptoms of superior vena cava obstruction syndrome. Severe chest pain, rapid worsening of symptoms in a short period of time, severe irritating cough, dyspnea caused by pleural effusion, palpitations and shortness of breath caused by pericardial effusion, and pain in joints and bones throughout the body all indicate the possibility of malignant thymoma.

The unique manifestation of thymoma is the combination of certain syndromes, such as myasthenia gravis, simple red cell aplasia, hypoglobulinemia, nephritis nephrotic syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosus, megaesophagus, etc.