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Would you offer empiric radiation for a growing mediastinal mass radiographically suspicious for thymoma in a patient who declines surgery?

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Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · Tennessee Oncology

If the patient truly refuses surgery, they need to undergo a core biopsy to get a tissue diagnosis due to the variety of potential histologies (ranging from thymoma, thymic carcinoma, lymphoma, germ cell tumor, primary lung tumor, etc.) each requiring distinct management strategies. Even...

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Mednet Member
Mednet Member
Radiation Oncology · Marshfield Clinic - Rice Lake

While there are instances, in special circumstances, where I treat patients without pathologic confirmation of malignancy, this would NOT be one of those cases. Depending on the histology of the tumor, the recommendation for treatment might be too different.

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Would you offer empiric radiation for a growing mediastinal mass radiographically suspicious for thymoma in a patient who declines surgery? | Mednet