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Review
. 2021 Apr 24;12(4):195-216.
doi: 10.5306/wjco.v12.i4.195.

GOECP/SEOR radiotherapy guidelines for thymic epithelial tumours

Mikel Rico  1 , Sonia Flamarique  2 , Cristina Casares  3 , Tamara García  4 , Miriam López  5 , Maribel Martínez  1 , Javier Serrano  6 , Manuel Blanco  7 , Raúl Hernanz  8 , Lourdes de Ingunza-Barón  9 , Francisco José Marcos  3 , Felipe Couñago  10
Affiliations
Review

GOECP/SEOR radiotherapy guidelines for thymic epithelial tumours

Mikel Rico et al. World J Clin Oncol. .

Abstract

Thymic epithelial tumours (TET) are rare, heterogeneous neoplasms that range from resectable indolent tumours to aggressive thymic carcinomas with a strong tendency to metastasize. The pathological diagnosis is complex, in part due to the existence of several different classification systems. The evidence base for the management of TETs is scant and mainly based on non-randomised studies and retrospective series. Consequently, the clinical management of TETs tends to be highly heterogenous, which makes it difficult to improve the evidence level. The role of technological advances in the field of radiotherapy and new systemic therapies in the treatment of TETs has received little attention to date. In the present clinical guidelines, developed by the GOECP/SEOR, we review recent developments in the diagnosis and classification of TETs. We also present a consensus-based therapeutic strategy for each disease stage that takes into consideration the best available evidence. These guidelines focus primarily on the role of radiotherapy, including recent advances, in the management of TETs. The main aim of this document is to promote the standardisation of clinical practice and lay the foundations for future studies to clarify the main unresolved questions related to the optimal management of TET.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Guidelines; Radiotherapy; Reirradiation; Targeted therapies; Thymic epithelial tumors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors have no conflict of interest related to the manuscript.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Therapeutic algorithm for resectable thymomas. PORT: Postoperative radiotherapy; ADJ ChT: Adjuvant Chemotherapy.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Therapeutic algorithm for unresectable thymomas. ChT: Chemotherapy; RT: Radiotherapy; CRT: Chemoradiotherapy. PORT: Postoperative radiotherapy.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Therapeutic algorithm for resectable thymic carcinomas. PORT: Postoperative radiotherapy; ChT: Chemotherapy.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Therapeutic algorithm for unresectable thymic carcinomas. PORT: Postoperative radiotherapy; ChT: Chemotherapy; RT: Radiotherapy.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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