Surveillance after pediatric thymoma resection

While thymomas represent only a small portion of intrathoracic and mediastinal neoplasms, thymomas in the pediatric population are even rarer. A 2014 review of three decades of literature noted only fifty reported cases at the time (1). Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up are thus extrapolated from the adult population; even in this age group, there is a lack of strong evidence. Sigurdson et al. recently discussed a case presentation and recommendations from an ITMIG multidisciplinary team for an 11-year-old female patient (2). Following a total R0 of the B2 thymoma, no adjuvant therapy was recommended and surveillance was concurrent with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines; the patient was recommended to get thoracic imaging every 6 months for 2 years, then annually for 10 years.