[2] Early-stage thymic carcinoma is generally asymptomatic, and the development of symptoms is indicative of an advanced stage cancer.

Compared to thymoma, the cells of thymic carcinoma behave aggressively; they are fast growing and have a higher likelihood of systemic spread.

Most early cases are asymptomatic and found incidentally on chest radiographs as a mass in the anterior mediastinum.

Further evaluation consists of additional imaging, such as CT, MRI, and PET, and tumor biopsy, which is the gold standard and provides the definitive diagnosis.

[6] Treatment of thymic carcinoma depends on the stage,[3] though initial resection of the entire tumor or surgical debulking is standard.

[4][8] As thymic carcinoma tends to be diagnosed at later stages, prognosis tends to be poor, with some studies estimating 30 to 55% of patients survive 5 years following diagnosis.