Symptoms Of Thymoma

Thymoma is a type of tumor that can affect the thymus gland, located in the upper chest behind the breastbone. The thymus gland is a part of the lymphatic system, helping the body to fight off infection as a part of the immune system.

Thymoma generally grows slowly and stays localized to the region around the thymus gland. A related disease, known as thymic carcinoma, is a kind of cancer that spreads beyond the thymus gland to other areas of the body, making treatment more difficult. It is essential to detect thymoma early for a better prognosis. This makes it important to know the symptoms of thymoma.

Shortness Of Breath

Because the thymus gland is centrally located in the chest, it is located to some critical structures in the body. If the tumor grows large enough, it can press on your airway and certain blood vessels, making it more difficult to get the amount of air in and out of your lungs as you have been used to. When your airway becomes narrowed or blocked due to the tumor, this can result in shortness of breath. If you notice you are having more trouble breathing than usual, and you do not have other respiratory symptoms that would indicate a virus, talk with your physician to rule out thymoma.

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Chest Pain

As the tumor from thymoma presses against certain structures within the chest cavity, this can result in pain. The pain can be caused by just the pressure of the tumor itself pressing in on surrounding structures, such as the air passageways. The movement that occurs in the chest area due to the heart beating and through respiration can also cause irritation and inflammation when rubbing against the tumor. If breathing is affected, a reduction of the intake of oxygen can also cause some pain in the chest area. Because chest pain can have so many causes, if you experience this symptom, it is important to see a qualified professional to make a proper diagnosis.

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