The following stages are used for thymoma:
Stage I: At this stage, cancer is confined solely within the thymus, with all cancer cells contained within the thymus’s surrounding capsule.
Stage II: Cancer has progressed beyond the capsule, extending into the fat surrounding the thymus or the chest cavity lining.
Stage III: Cancer has advanced to neighboring organs within the chest, such as the lungs, the pericardium (sac around the heart), or major blood vessels supplying the heart.
Stage IV: Stage IV is further categorized into stage IVA and stage IVB, based on the extent of cancer spread.
- In stage IVA, cancer has disseminated extensively around the lungs and heart.
- In stage IVB, cancer has metastasized to the bloodstream or lymphatic system.
Thymic carcinomas are typically diagnosed after spreading to other body parts.