Number of recurrent lesions is a prognostic factor in recurrent thymoma.

In advanced stage thymomas, recurrence is not uncommon but prognostic factors in recurrent thymoma have not been determined and standardized treatment for recurrence has not yet been established. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 24 thymoma patients who underwent treatment for recurrence in our institution to determine the prognostic factors for overall survival. Recurrence of thymoma appeared 11.6-109.6 months after the primary operation (34.6±25.7 months). Pleural disseminated recurrence was common (n=21) as the primary recurrent lesions. Single or combined modality therapy was performed in 19 patients; surgical resection in 12, radiotherapy in 10, and chemotherapy in six patients. A third surgical resection was performed in two patients. There was no difference in overall survival between the groups with or without treatment nor in those with or without resection. Old age and chemotherapy were factors for poorer prognosis. Patients with one or two recurrent lesions detected on CT examinations showed better prognosis. Prognosis in thymoma patients with recurrence was reviewed in the present study. Patients with a small number of recurrent lesions showed better prognosis irrespective of the treatment.