What are the Causes of Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma?
The exact risk factor is largely unknown though a common trigger is considered to cause related solid and hematopoietic tumors associated with thymic tumors.
Genes, such as MEN1 (multiple endocrine neoplasia) have been detected in invasive thymoma while GTF2 mutations are found in localized thymomas.
Infectious agents or environmental factors have not been implicated in causing thymic tumors.
What are the Symptoms and Signs of Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma?
Thymomas are not discovered until the time of radiographic imaging in nearly half the cases. The other half of thymomas is detected in conjunction with other rare disorders (paraneoplastic syndromes) or due to persistent symptoms, such as persistent cough, breathing difficulty, or chest pain. It is then advisable to get a scan done. The paraneoplastic conditions include red cell aplasia, myasthenia gravis, and hypogammaglobulinemia. You also observe symptoms linked to superior vena cava syndrome. Nearly 30-50 percent of individuals with thymoma are affected with myasthenia gravis.
