Open Accessibility Menu
Hide

Thymic Tumors

Tumors are abnormal growths of tissue that can occur anywhere in the body. While tumors are usually associated with cancer (malignant), some are non-cancerous (benign). Therefore it is extremely important for your doctor to identify if it is cancerous or not to determine the best way to treat your condition.

The thymus gland is a gland that shrinks after puberty, being replaced with fat instead. It plays an important role in developing the body’s immune system. Even when the thymus has shrunk, it still remains in the body and is susceptible to tumors.

Request an Appointment

Types of Thymic Tumors

Tumors of the thymus glands are uncommon, accounting for less than one percent of all cancers. There are several types:

  • Thymoma: About 90 percent of tumors that develop in the thymus are thymomas. These tumors begin in the cells that line the outside of the thymus and tend to grow slowly. It’s rare for them to spread outside of the thymus. However, there are situations in which thymomas are aggressive and spread to neighboring organs in the chest or the lining of the lung (the pleura).
  • Thymic carcinoma: These can grow more quickly than thymomas and can sometimes spread outside the thymus. These tumors sometimes require combinations of different therapies, such as chemotherapy or radiation in addition to surgery.
  • Thymic carcinoid: These are rare and slow-growing cancers. They more commonly arise in the digestive tract and lungs, but on rare occasions can also appear in the thymus gland. They occur more frequently in men than in women and are more likely than thymomas to spread or recur.

Causes of Thymic Tumors

There are no known causes of thymic tumors. However, other conditions, traits or habits may also play a role in raising your risk. These conditions are known as risk factors and include:

Non-modifiable risk factors: These factors are irreversible and cannot be changed. The more of these risk factors you have, the greater your chance of developing this disease.

  • Older age
  • Family History/genetics
  • Ethnicity: most common in Asian and Pacific Islanders

Modifiable risk factors: These factors can be modified, treated or controlled through medications or lifestyle changes.

  • Excessive amounts of alcohol consumption over the years
  • Long history of cigarette smoking and/or drug abuse

Other conditions that contribute to Thymic tumors:

  • Autoimmune disease: a condition in which your immune system mistakenly attacks your body (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma)

Symptoms of Thymic Tumors

About half of all thymic tumors show no symptoms. Others can grow large enough that they put pressure on nearby organs, which can cause problems. Some symptoms of thymic tumors include:

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Fever
  • Chronic cough
  • Night sweats

Diagnosis of Thymic Tumors

Screenings are typically performed through a routine check-up even if no symptoms are present. Typically, based on your doctor’s assessment, you will have one or more of the following diagnostic tests and procedures:

Treatment of Thymic Tumors

There are many different approaches to treating thymic tumors. The right option for you depends on where the tumor formed and what caused it. In the early stages, doctors usually choose to monitor the tumor to see if it will cause any problems before recommending a treatment that could be unnecessary. Some treatment options include lifestyle changes, and medical and surgical procedures.

Lifestyle Changes

  • Avoid smoking
  • Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
  • Make and keep appointments to see your doctor for routine check-ups and follow-up tests.

Medical and Surgical procedures

To contact one of New Jersey’s best lung and thoracic cancer specialists call 844-CANCERNJ or 844-226-2376.

Patient Stories

  • “The good news is that everything worked out pretty much how I told them it would.”

    Erin
    Read More
  • “The treatment continues to go well, and I feel good. I love the fact that it’s a pill—no IV or needles. I’m back to work, traveling, going to church and doing all the things I enjoy.”

    Cynthia
    Read More
  • “I consider myself very fortunate,” shares Maria. “I took part in the clinical study with the goal to help others.”

    Maria
    Read More

Patient Stories

  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
  • Watch Testimonial
Medical Specialty Services at Bayonne
16 East 29th Street
Bayonne, NJ 07002
(973) 926-7280
View
Cristie Kerr Women's Health Center
377 Jersey Avenue
Ground Floor, Medical Office Building
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(877) 393-5374
View
Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Westfield
560 Springfield Ave
Westfield, NJ 07090
(973) 322-7020
View
RWJBarnabas Health Ambulatory Care Center
200 South Orange Avenue
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7000
View
Community Medical Center’s Comprehensive Breast Center
368 Lakehurst Rd
1st Floor, Suite 102
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-3363
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Howell
4013 Route 9
Suite 2S
Howell, NJ 07731
(732) 923-7700
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Colts Neck
310 Route 34 South
Second Floor
Colts Neck, NJ 07722
(732) 923-7700
View
Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation Infusion Center
414 Grand Street
Suite 9
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2730
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7700
View
Jersey City Medical Center Radiation Oncology
631 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07304
(844) 226-2376
View
Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
94 Old Short Hills Road
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-5000
View
Monmouth Medical Center
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-5200
View
Clara Maass Medical Center
1 Clara Maass Drive
Belleville, NJ 07109
(973) 450-2000
View
Community Medical Center
99 Highway 37 West
Toms River, NJ 08755
(732) 557-8000
View
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Children's Hospital of New Jersey at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
201 Lyons Avenue at Osborne Terrace
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Rutgers Cancer Institute
195 Little Albany St.
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-2465
View
Jersey City Medical Center
355 Grand Street
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 915-2000
View
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at RWJUH
200 Somerset Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
RWJ University Hospital Rahway
865 Stone Street
Rahway, NJ 07065
(732) 381-4200
View
RWJ University Hospital Somerset
110 Rehill Avenue
Somerville, NJ 08876
(908) 685-2200
View
The Jacqueline M. Wilentz Breast Center at Lakewood
600 River Ave
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 923-7700
View
Trinitas Regional Medical Center – Williamson Street Campus
225 Williamson St
Elizabeth, NJ 07202
(908) 994-5000
View
The Unterberg Children's Hospital at Monmouth Medical Center
300 2nd Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 923-7250
View
Monmouth Medical Center Outpatient Infusion Center
100 State Route 36 West
West Long Branch, NJ 07764
(732) 222-6046
View
RWJ University Hospital Hamilton
1 Hamilton Health Place
Hamilton, NJ 08690
(609) 586-7900
View
Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital
1 Robert Wood Johnson Place
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 828-3000
View
Center for Breast Health and Disease Management - Livingston
200 South Orange Avenue
Suite 102
Livingston, NJ 07039
(973) 322-7020
View
Jersey City Medical Center Outpatient Services at Colony Plaza
414 Grand Street
Suite 14
Jersey City, NJ 07302
(201) 616-0470
View
Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus
600 River Avenue
Lakewood, NJ 08701
(732) 363-1900
View
The Family Health Center (FHC) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
166 Lyons Avenue
Newark, NJ 07112
(973) 926-7000
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
125 Paterson Street
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 235-6200
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group at Monroe
800 Bunn Drive
Suite 303
Princeton, NJ 08540
(609) 655-5178
View
Laurie Proton Therapy Center
141 French Street
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(732) 253-3176
View
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical Group
18 Centre Drive
Clinical Academic Building (CAB)
New Brunswick, NJ 08901
(609) 655-5178
View
Cancer Center at RWJ Hamilton
2575 Klockner Road
Hamilton Township, NJ 08690
(609) 631-6960
View

Lung & Thoracic Cancer Treatment & Care

offered at these locations in your neighborhood

View All Locations