Thymus cancer
Also known as: Malignant neoplasms of thymus, unspecified
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In short
The thymus is a small organ in the upper chest, under the breastbone, which helps the body make a type of white blood cell before birth and during childhood to protect against infections. Cancer of the thymus is rare, and it is more likely to occur in those who have other diseases such as myasthenia gravis, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes there are no symptoms, but other times thymus cancer can cause a cough that does not go away, chest pain, or trouble breathing. Doctors use a physical exam, imaging tests, and a biopsy to diagnose this cancer, and the most common treatment is surgery to remove the tumor, alongside other options like radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
AI-generated summary of the sources cited on this page, checked automatically against them. Not reviewed by a clinician; not medical advice.
Codes
Description
The thymus is a small organ in your upper chest, under your breastbone. Before birth and during childhood, the thymus helps the body make a type of white blood cell. These cells help protect you from infections.
Cancer of the thymus is rare. You are more likely to get it if you have other diseases such as myasthenia gravis, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Sometimes there are no symptoms. Other times, thymus cancer can cause:
- A cough that doesn't go away
- Chest pain
- Trouble breathing
Doctors use a physical exam, imaging tests, and a biopsy to diagnose thymus cancer. The most common treatment is surgery to remove the tumor. Other options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
NIH: National Cancer Institute
Next to it in ICD-10
- C31Sinus cancer
- C33Tracheal cancer
- C34Lung cancer
- C40Bone cancer of the limbs
- C41Bone cancer (other sites)
- C43Melanoma of the skin
Neighbouring codes in the classification, not a medical link.
External resources
Questions
What is the ICD-10 code for Thymus cancer?
C37 (WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision).
What is the ICD-11 code for Thymus cancer?
2C27.Z: Malignant neoplasms of thymus, unspecified (WHO, ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics).
Sources and attribution
- ICD-11 for Mortality and Morbidity Statistics, © World Health Organization, licensed under CC BY-ND 3.0 IGO.
- Names other than the official source titles: Anpheros translations and plain-language names, made with AI assistance and checked automatically; the source names are in English.
- Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine.
- ICD-10 codes and titles © World Health Organization. Source: WHO, International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (2019).
Anpheros Search catalog 2026.10.5, published 17 October 2026. About the data →
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