Linh, a 58-year-old woman, had been experiencing persistent chest pain for nearly a year, suspecting it was due to heart disease. However, she was eventually diagnosed with a malignant thymus tumor after visiting Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. Initially, she had a dull pain in the left chest area and a dry cough in early 2023, which led to a diagnosis of chronic bronchitis.
Despite medication, her symptoms did not improve, and after Tet, she continued to experience coughing and increased chest pain. Seeking further evaluation, she visited Tam Anh General Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City. On April 27, Dr. Tran Quoc Hoai from the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the Cardiovascular Center identified a large thymic tumor as the cause of her symptoms.
Due to the invasive nature of the tumor, the medical team decided to perform open surgery to remove it safely. The procedure was successful, and Ms. Linh was discharged from the hospital after five days. Pathology results confirmed that the tumor was malignant, and she received chemotherapy to prevent cancer cells from spreading. Thymic carcinoma is a rare form of cancer that originates from thymic epithelial cells and affects the thymus gland located in the mediastinum. Early detection and treatment can lead to positive outcomes for patients with this type of cancer.
Thymoma is relatively uncommon but can cause symptoms such as persistent coughing, difficulty breathing, chest pain, difficulty swallowing and weight loss if left untreated. The patient’s age may have also played a role in her symptoms as older individuals are more prone to developing lung diseases.
It is important for anyone experiencing persistent chest pain or other respiratory symptoms to seek medical attention immediately. If diagnosed with thymic cancer or any other form of cancer early on they have better chances of recovery through various treatments such as chemotherapy or surgery depending on stage of cancer.
Overall Ms Linh’s story serves as an example of how important it is to seek medical attention when experiencing persistent symptoms regardless how severe they may seem at first sight.
