• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.796-803
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• 1984

Pure Red-Cell Aplasia [P.R.C.A.] is rare disease characterized by absence of erythroid precursors in the bone marrow, normocytic normochromic anemia with profound reticulocytopenia in the peripheral blood, and relatively or completely spared granulopoiesis and thrombopoiesis. The association rates of P.R.C.A. with Thymoma is approximately 50%, but only 5-10% of all patients with a Thymoma have a P.R.C.A.. P.R.C.A. is thought to be a variety of autoimmune disease, and humoral inhibitor, i.e. IgG, has been demonstrated experimentally. Its treatments such as thymectomy, immunosuppressants, steroid, androgenic hormone, and splenectomy have been tried but the result is not satisfactory and the prognosis is poor. We experienced a case of P.R.C.A. with Thymoma treated with thymectomy and postoperative steroid therapy, and which showed good postoperative recovery clinically and hematologically.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.715-719
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• 1990

Thymoma is defined as a neoplasm of the epithelialreticular framework cells of the thymus. The treatment of choice and the prognosis for patients with thymoma are still controversial subjects due to lack of a uniform histological classification and standardized criteria for typing thymic tumors. Between June 1985 and May 1989, eight patients underwent thymomectomy at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Korea University Medical Center. A clinical analysis was performed and the following result was obtained. In histologic cell type, epithelial type was 2 cases, lymphocytic type 3 cases, and mixed type was 3 cases. The clinical stage was classified by Masaoka’s classification that Stage I was 4 cases, Stage II; 2 cases, Stage III; 2 cases and Stage IV was none. Myasthenia Gravis was associated with thymoma in 5 patients. In 8 patients, thymomectomy were performed. Adjuvant radiotherapy was performed in one patient with Stage I due to suspicious tumor remnant and in Stage II, III patients routinely. Combined chemotherapy was performed in one patient with Stage III due to local recurrence. We concluded that the most important prognostic factor of thymoma is extent of tumor invasion. And the presence of Myasthenia Gravis is no more prognostic factor. Surgical resection of thymoma is treatment of choice, If local invasion or distant dissemination is present, postoperative radiotherapy and /or combined chemotherapy is recommended.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.48-53
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• 1991

This report documents the clinical k pathologic features of 33 patients treated for thymoma for 11 years & 6 months between September 1977 and February 1989. At the Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery, Yonsei University, College of Medicine of the group, 31 patients treated with surgery were examined for the result of operation & prognosis. Mean age was 50 years. Thirteen were female and twenty were male. Dyspnea on exertion and chest discomfort were common in the patients without myasthenia gravis. Fourteen patients[42.6%] had myasthenia gravis and one patient had autoimmune thyroid disease. Four patients[12.1%] presented without symptoms attributable to their thymoma. Histologic review disclosed 12[36.4%] epithelial thymoma, 10[30.3%] mixed lymphoepithelial, 9[27.3%] lymphocytic, 1[3.0%] spindle cell and 1[3.0%] unknown cell thymoma. They were classified according to Masaoka`s clinical staging criteria; by these criteria, 8 patients were stage I, 5 patients were stage II, 15 patients were stage III and 3 patients were stage IV. Total excision of mass was possible in 20 patients. Partial excision of mass in 4 patients and biopsy in 7 patients were carried out during the operation. There was only one operation mortality. Follow-up was possible in 26 patients and follow-up ranged from 4 months to 10.5 years[mean 28.9 months]. One-year survival rates were 77.8% and eight patients expired during follow-up period. Eleven[78.6%] patients with myasthenia gravis were improved after the operation. This observation suggests that the most significant factor determining the survival is whether or not total surgical excision had been performed.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 1994

Malignant thymoma is usually manifested as a mediastinal mass. Occasiomally, these tumors may be associated with a variety of systemic syndromes, such as myasthenia gravis, pure red cell aplasia or hypogammaglobulinemia However, it is generally accepted that thymomas rarely metastasize and the frequency of extrathoracic metastasis has been reported as 1 to 15%. In general, nuclear changes of tumor cells such as enlarged size, irregular shape and altered textures are determining factors in the assessment of the grade of malignancy. We experienced a case of malignant thymoma of anterior mediastinum in a 35-year-old woman. After 3 years, she developed recurrent malignant thymoma in the right supraclavicular area, diagnosed by aspiration biopsy cytology.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.83-87
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• 2008

Accessory cervical thymic tissue has been rarely reported. However, it should be included in the differential diagnosis of neck masses in children, along with branchial anomalies, lymph nodes and other tumors. This lesion occurs along the descending line of the thymus between the angle of mandible and superior mediastinum. A 2-month-old infant presented with an asymptomatic left sided neck mass. MRI revealed a well defined homogeneous mass in the deep lobe of left parotid gland. At operation, an easily identified soft tissue mass was found in the left submandibular area, measuring $3{\times}1.5cm$. It was completely excised. Microscopic examination revealed normal thymic tissue.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.16-24
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• 1993

The fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic findings in 16 cases of histologically confirmed thymoma are reported. The aspirates were obtained under fluoroscopic guidance. The cytologic diagnoses were inadequate sample in one case, thymoma in 12(75%), small cell carcinoma or thymoma in 1, benign mesenchymal tumor in 1, and germ cell tumor in one. The cytologic features were detailed according to the constituent epithelial cell type, and into 4 small of epithelial cells and lymphocytes. Fifteen cases were classified into 4 small epithelial cell type, 6 intermediate epithelial cell type, 1 large epithelial cell type, 1 large pleomorphic epithelial cell type, and 3 spindle-shaped epithelial ceil type. Cytologic differential diagnosis was discussed, and the important criteria for the cytologic diagnosis of thymoma were reviewed. This review leads us to think that nonoperative cytologic approaches in the diagnosis of the thymoma are possible, and that correct cytologic diagnosis of thymoma with FNAs can easily be made, if adequate samples are obtained However the invasiveness and histologic type could not be predicted by cytological features only. Knowing various cytologic and histologic features of thymoma will be helpful for the diagnosis of thymoma and the differential diagnosis of modiastinal tumors.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.32-34
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• 2005

Myasthenia gravis with thymoma is associated with an increased risk of second malignancy, but concurrence of myasthenia gravis and thyroid carcinoma is rarely seen. In the treatment, it is emphasized to operate in two stage to avoid myasthenic crisis after surgery. In general, a thyroid cancer surgery is performed after controlling yasthenia gravis by means of thymectomy or medical treatment with steroids and anticholine esterase. We experienced two cases of thyroid carcinoma coexisting with myasthenia gravis, which is thought to be true first report in Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.425-429
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• 1997

Until 1972, many carcinoid tumors of the thymus were not recognized as distinct lesions and were mistakenly labeled as variants of thymomas. Thymic carcinoid tumors are unusual neoplasms that show different morphological, functional, and behavioral characteristics than those of thymomas. We report a case of a 65-year-old woman with thymic carcinoid tumor. The clinicopathological findings are discussed with a review of the literature.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.39 no.5 s.262
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• pp.423-425
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• 2006

A case report of lymphangiohemangioma of the mediastinum that was misdiagnosed as thymic origin mass on chest CT and MR angiography. Operative finding revealed vascular proliferation originated from innominate vein and the pathologic finding showed both lymphatic and vascular component which was diagnosed lymphangiohemangioma.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.306-311
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• 1980

Pure red cell aplasia is unusual cause of anemia and a selective aplastic disorder that affects the erythroid series of the bone marrow. Fifty percent of all patients with red cell aplasia will have a thymoma. Twenty-five to 30% of those who undergo thymectomy will be cured. A 57-years-old man was admitted to the medical department of Korea University hospital with complaints. Physical examination reveals a sick looking man with a pale lip, anemic conjunctiva and subicteric sclera. On auscultation, coarse breathing sound and moist rale was heard on the right lung field. Neither the liver nor spleen was palpable. A blood count showed the erythrocytes to number 2,640,000/mm3 and hemoglobin to be 7.0gm/dl. A white blood cell count was 5,000/mm3 and a platelet count was 328,000/mm3 Reticulocyte count was 0.7%. Examination of the peripheral blood smear showed the red cell, to be normocytic and normochromic. Urine sugar was three positive and GTT was positive. The anterior-posterior and lateral view of Chest X-ray was suggestive of an anterior mediastinal mass. A bone marrow biopsy reveals absence of red cell precursors and a normal myeloid series and megakaryocytes. At thoracotomy in May 1980 an encapsulated, lobulated, benign thymoma, which measured 5x7x5 cm was removed, microscopic examination showed it was of the spindle cell type. The postoperative course was uneventful, but the patient never had a return of hemoglobin to the blood. The patient was discharged on the postoperative] 3 days. At postoperative 1 month, the patient was readmitted for bone marrow study and had no return of red cells to bone marrow. At now, patient has been treated with steroid and the further follow up study will be needed.