BACKGROUND: A TNM classification has been established for various @entity5 . However, the TNM classification of @entity9075 has not been established yet. METHODS: We received replies to a questionnaire on thymic @entity5 from 115 institutes. We compiled a database of 1,320 @entity1 with @entity9075 (1,093 @entity704 , 186 @entity704 , and 41 thymic carcinoids) who were treated between 1990 and 1994. We used a tentative TNM classification of @entity704 presented by Yamakawa and associates in 1991. The regional lymph nodes of the thymus were classified into three groups: anterior mediastinal lymph nodes (N1), intrathoracic lymph nodes (N2), and extrathoracic lymph nodes (N3). RESULTS: The rate of lymphogenous @entity3 in @entity704 was 1.8%, 27%, and 28%, respectively. @entity5 with lymph node @entity3 metastasized to N1 ( @entity704 , 90%; @entity704 , 69%; @entity6732 , 91%). The 5-year survival rates of N0, N1, and N2 @entity704 were 96%, 62%, and 20%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates of N0, N1(,) N2, and N3 @entity704 were 56%, 42%, 29%, and 19%, respectively. The 5-year survival rates of M0 and M1 @entity704 were 95% and 57%. The 5-year survival rates of M0 and M1 @entity704 were 51% and 35%. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that survival of @entity1 with @entity704 was dependent on the clinical stage of Masaoka and complete resection. In @entity704 , survival was dependent on lymph node @entity3 and complete resection. CONCLUSIONS: The N factor was one of the predictors of survival in @entity704 . However, M factor showed less influence on survival than T or N factors.

Lymphogenous and hematogenous XXXX of thymic @entity5 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients'] @entity704 :: ('MESH:D013945', 'Disease') :: ['thymic carcinoma', 'thymoma, thymic carcinoma, and thymic carcinoid', 'thymoma', 'thymomas', 'thymic carcinomas', 'thymoma and thymic carcinoma'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['Most tumors', 'epithelial tumors', 'tumors'] @entity6732 :: ('MESH:D013953', 'Disease') :: ['thymic carcinoid'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis'] @entity9075 :: ('MESH:C536905', 'Disease') :: ['thymic epithelial tumor']
@entity3 :: (MESH:D009362,Disease) :: ['metastasis']
