Results
Follow-up ranged from 8.5 to 273.5 months with median of 6.1 years.
During that time 4 patients died – 1 due to progression of the disease,
in 3 others reason of death was unknown but during the last visit no
evidence of thymoma was present. All others are still alive and free of
the disease. After the treatment, the size of the tumour was assessed
based on a comparative radiologic analysis - images taken before and
after the treatment were compared for all but one cases. In all
evaluated patients complete regression was observed and no local
progression was found in any of the patients (100% local control).
Patient with progression of the disease (lung metastases) received RTH
as salvage treatment and lived for 21 more months. Two patients had mild
acute radiation reactions – one leucopenia and one pneumonia. All
patients received planned dose and no treatment interruptions was noted.
After the treatment, CT imaging revealed radiological fibrosis of the
irradiated lung volume in 1 patient, however, without clinical symptoms.
During the follow-up one patient (one year old at the time of thymoma
diagnosis) was diagnosed with lymphoma 22 years after the treatment
which eventually was the reason of death.
Two-, 5- and 10-years OS and PFS were 85% and 72%, 51% and 54%, 51%
and 54%, respectively (Figure 1). None of analyzed factors had
statistically significant impact on OS or PFS.