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Thymus Cancer

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Key Statistics About Thymus Cancers

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Although thymic tumors (thymomas and thymic carcinomas) are the most common tumors in the anterior mediastinum (the front part of the space between the lungs), overall they are rare. They occur at a rate of only 1.3 cases for every million people each year in the US. This works out to about 400 cases per year. (The exact number diagnosed each year is not known.)

Survival statistics for thymomas are discussed in Survival rates for thymus cancer.

 

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Developed by the American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team with medical review and contribution by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

Kaidar-Person O, Zagar T, Haithcock BE, Weiss J. Chapter 70: Diseases of the Pleura and Mediastinum. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, Kastan MB, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff’s Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. Elsevier: 2019.

Meneshian A, Oliver KR, Molina JR. Clinical presentation and management of thymoma and thymic carcinoma. UpToDate. 2024. Accessed at https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-presentation-and-management-of-thymoma-and-thymic-carcinoma on October 18, 2024.

National Cancer Institute. Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma Treatment (PDQ®)–Health Professional Version. 2024. Accessed at https://www.cancer.gov/types/thymoma/hp/thymoma-treatment-pdq on October 18, 2024.

Last Revised: December 6, 2024

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