One of the most important resources you have for learning about the diagnosis and treatment of this disease is the government’s National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) practice guidelines. These outline the suggested rules for diagnosing and treating Thymic cancers.
The guidelines are updated regularly as new research develops.
You can view and download a copy of the guidelines by clicking HERE
In addition to a detailed narrative, there are a series of flow charts.
- Initial evaluation
- Initial management
- Postoperative treatment and management
- Treatment for locally advanced or recurrent disease treatment
Look at the flow chart shown below.
The first section lists the various diagnostic tools that can be used to identify the tumor. If the results show that a Thymic tumor is likely, then you would look at the initial management chart shown here. This is the flow chart based on whether the tumor is operable or not.
If the tumor is operable, the next flow chart shows treatment and management based on the results of surgery and whether it is a thymoma or thymic carcinoma.