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SMALL CELL (OAT CELL) CANCER OF THE
THYMUS
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ALTERNATE NAMES
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Small Cell Carcinoma of the Thymus; Thymic Small Cell Carcinoma
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DESCRIPTION
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Small
cell
cancer
of the
thymus is a rare aggressive type of cancer in which malignant cancer cells form on the outside
surface of the thymus. The thymus is a small organ that is located behind the breast
bone (sternum) in the front part of the mediastinum, the space in the chest between
the lungs. This type of cancer is among the rarest cancer in humans, comprising of
<1% of all adult cancers. The exact cause of this cancer is unknown. These cancers
are often associated with autoimmune diseases (i.e. myasthenia gravis, polymyositis,
lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroiditis, Sjögren's syndrome, and hypogammaglobulinemia).
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DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, PHYSICAL FINDINGS, AND
ICD-9-CM/ICD-10-CM
CODING
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Diagnostic testing:
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•
Medical history and examination;
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Imaging tests such as chest x-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, and magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) scan;
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•
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan;
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Needle biopsy or surgical biopsy.
Physical
findings:
The thymus is located near the superior vena cava, the main blood vessel that brings
blood from the head and upper body to the heart. Tumors that press on this vessel
may cause:
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Swelling in the face, neck, and upper chest;
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•
Individuals may have a bluish color on the upper body;
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Swelling of the visible veins in the upper body;
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Reports of dizziness or light-headedness.
ICD-9: 164.0
ICD-10: C37
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PROGRESSION
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Small cell cancers of the thymus tend to grow fast and spread (metastasize) to other
parts of the body and they have a high risk of recurrence. The prognosis is poor,
as it is with all small cell cancers.
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TREATMENT
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This type of cancer is generally treated with surgery to remove the tumor, radiation,
and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may be prescribed prior to surgical resection to shrink
the size of the tumor.
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SUGGESTED PROGRAMMATIC ASSESSMENT*
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Suggested MER for
Evaluation:
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•
Clinical history and examination that describes the diagnostic features of the impairment;
and
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•
Pathology report of a biopsy or surgical specimen of the thymus showing small cell
histology.
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Suggested Listings
for
Evaluation:
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DETERMINATION
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LISTING
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REMARKS
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Meets
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13.15 C
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113.03
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Small cell cancer of the thymus is rare in children.
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Equals
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* Adjudicators may, at their discretion, use the Medical Evidence of Record or the
listings suggested to evaluate the claim. However, the decision to allow or deny the
claim rests with the adjudicator.
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