Monitoring
Patients should be followed up regularly after treatment. Thymomas are less aggressive and tend to recur later than other thymic tumours, sometimes more than 10 years after treatment.[86][87][88] Although data evaluating the optimal surveillance strategy are limited, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines recommend a surveillance period of at least 10 years for thymoma, owing to the potential for late recurrence and 5 years for thymic carcinoma.[63] Computed tomography is the most common imaging modality utilised, although magnetic resonance imaging is a reasonable alternative for patients who wish to avoid radiation. NCCN guidelines recommend 6-monthly surveillance imaging for the first 2 years, followed by annual surveillance for the remaining period.[63]
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