• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.139-154
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• 2021

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a crucial tool for evaluating mediastinal masses considering that several lesions that appear indeterminate on computed tomography and radiography can be differentiated on MRI. Using a three-compartment model to localize the mass and employing a basic knowledge of MRI, radiologists can easily diagnose mediastinal masses. Here, we review the use of MRI in evaluating mediastinal masses and present the images of various mediastinal masses categorized using the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group's three-compartment classification system. These masses include thymic hyperplasia, thymic cyst, pericardial cyst, thymoma, mediastinal hemangioma, lymphoma, mature teratoma, bronchogenic cyst, esophageal duplication cyst, mediastinal thyroid carcinoma originating from ectopic thyroid tissue, mediastinal liposarcoma, mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst, neurogenic tumor, meningocele, and plasmacytoma.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.41-46
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• 2005

Carcinoid tumors of the thymus are vanishingly rare, and the characteristic cytologic findings of this condition have never before been reported in Korea. Recently, we encountered a 58-year-old woman who had been suffering from general weakness and weight loss for several months. Radiological imaging revealed a large anterior mediastinal mass. A fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) of the mass showed predominantly scattered single cells, as well as some loose clusters of small cells with scanty cytoplasm. Some of these small cells exhibited plasmacytoid features, with moderately granular cytoplasm. We also discuss the cytological differential diagnosis between thymic carcinoid and other mediastinal tumors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.133-136
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• 2015

Spindle epithelial tumor with thymus-like differentiation (SETTLE) is an extremely rare type of thyroid tumor, with spares reports on its clinical course. SETTLE is derived from branchial pouch or thymic remnants, and classified as a low grade, malignant neoplasm due to its indolent growth and tendency to develop delayed metastasis. Therefore, stringent initial workups and long-term follow-up are required to prevent misdiagnosis. We present a case of recurrent spindle epithelial tumor with thymus-like differentiation (SETTLE) in the glottis of 57 year-old male patient, who had a history of surgical excision for the SETTLE from the thyroid gland 5 years ago. Transoral CO2 laser surgery was performed to remove the glottic tumor and there was no evidence of local recurrence at 11 months postoperatively.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2008

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors are the most common tumors affecting the anterior mediastinum. The aim of this study is to investigate clinical features of the patients who were diagnosed with thymic epithelial tumors at Pusan National University Hospital. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of thirty-seven patients who were diagnosed with thymic epithelial tumors from Jan. 1997 to Jan. 2007. The pathological classification and clinical stage of the thymic epithelial tumors were based on the WHO classification and Masaoka's staging system. A total 37 patients were enrolled: 23 were males and 14 were females, and their mean age was 51.3 years. Results: Thirty patients presented symptoms at the time of diagnosis and their symptoms were as follows: chest pain (53%), dyspnea (23%), and cough (17%). Myasthenia gravis was diagnosed in five patients. With respect to the tumor staging, three cases (8%) were stage I, 10 cases (28%) were stage II, 12 cases (32%) were stage III, 6 cases (16%) were stage IVA and 6 cases (16%) were stage IVB. Twenty-four cases (67%) displayed stage III or IV disease. The pathological types according to the WHO classification were as follows: B1 (32%), C (23%), B3 (20%), B2 (16%), AB (6%) and A (3%). Twenty-four patients underwent thymothymectomy and four of these patients relapsed. Stage III or type B3 was common in the relapsed patients. Five patientsexpired. Stage IV or type B3 and C were common in the expired patients. Conclusion: In this study, stage III or IV disease and type B3 or C were common at the time of diagnosis and these findings might contribute to postoperative recurrence and a poor outcome.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.85-91
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• 2005

Purpose : This study was conducted to analyze treatment outcome and prognostic significance of World Health Organization (WHO)-defined thymic epithelial tumor (TET) subtype and to assess optimal radiation target volume in patients receiving surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy with TET. Materials and Methods: The record of 160 patients with TET, who received surgical resection at the Samsung medical Center, from December 1994 to June 2004, were reviewed. 99 patients were treated with postoperative radiation therapy (PORT). PORT was recommended when patients had more than one findings among suspicious Incomplete resection or positive resection margin or Wasaoka stage $II\~IV$ or WHO type $B2\~C$. PORT peformed to primary tumor bed only with a mean dose of 54 Gy. The prognostic factor and pattern of failure were analyzed retrospectively. Results : The overall survival rate at 5 years was $87.3\%$. Age (more than 60 years $77.8\%$, less than 60 years $91.1\%$; p=0.03), Wasaoka stage (I $92.2\%$, II $95.4\%$, III $82.1\%$, IV $57.5\%$; p=0.001), WHO tumor type (A-Bl $96.0\%$, B2-C $82.3\%$; p=0.001), Extent of resection (R0 resection $92.3\%$, R1 or 2 resection $72.6\%$, p=0.001) were the prognostic factors according to univariate analysis. But WHO tumor type was the only significant prognostic factor according to multivariate analysis. Recurrence was observed in 5 patients of 71 Masoka stage I-III patients who received grossly complete tumor removal (R0, R1 resection) and PORT to primary tumor bed. Mediastinal recurrence was observed In only one patients. There were no recurrence within irradiation field. Conclusion : WHO tumor type was the important prognostic factor to predict survival of patients with TET. This study suggest that PORT to only primary tumor bed was optimal. To avoid pleura- or pericardium-based recurrence, further study of effective chemotherapy should be investigated.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.39-42
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• 2004

Thymolipoma is a rare benign mediastinal tumor, composed of mature fatty and thymic tissues. A 9-year-old boy was referred with a one-month history of neck swelling. Preoperative computed tomography scan and fine needle aspiration biopsy suggested thymolipoma. Despite it being rare, thymolipoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal tumors. Characteristics of its clinical feature and radiological findings that can differentiated it from other mediastinal tumors are discussed with a review of the literatures.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.299-302
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• 1982

Cystic hygroma is benign overgrowth of the lymphatic vessels and is usually located in the neck, but rare in the mediastinum. This vascular tumor may appear in any portion of mediastinum, but seems to be most common anteriorly. This is a report of one case of congenital mediastinal cystic hygroma in a 25 years old man, especially in the thymic location which was surgically removed successfully with good postoperative result and confirmed histopathologically.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.79-104
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• 1985

Clinical and cytomorphological studies were carried out in 32 leukotic cattle from Tokachi and Kushiro districts in Hokkaido during the 12 year period from 1969 to 1980. The leukotic cattle were examined :and divided into four types(15 cases of the adult, 11 cases of the thymic, 4 casas of the calf and 2 cases of the skin types). The results obtained were as follows : 1. As for the frequency of the main clinical signs in each type, In the adult type, the main clinical signs (of decreasing order) are as follows: swelling of the superficial lymph nodes>depression and loss of weight>tachycardia>anorekia, anemia of the visible mucous membrane and tachypnea. Those of the thymic type were swelling of the thymus>swelling of the medial iliac lymph nodes> swelling of the superficial lymph nodes>tachypnea. Those of the calf type were swelling of the auperficial lymph nodes>depression and emaciation>tachypnea>anorexia, tachycardia, anemia of the visible mucous membrane and recumbency. Those of the skin type were generalized urticaria-like lesions in skin and swelling of superficial lymph nodes>and depression and loss of weight in the decreasing order of frequency. In addition, large tumor mass in the pelvic cavity and swelling of the medial iliac lymph nodes were detected through rectal palpation in 33.3% and 100% in the adult type cases, respectively. 2. As for the hematological findings, The frequency of occurrence of decreased erythrocyte counts in the decreasing order were as follows : adult>calf>thymic>and skin types. The increase in the total leukocyte count in the order of decreasing frequency were as follows: calf>thymic>adult>and skin types. The increase in the absolute lymphocyte counts was found to be at a low rate, 62.5% of all the cases examined. By contrast, the increase of 5% or more of abnormal lymphocyte rates was observed at a high rate, 96.9% of the total cases. 3. Abnormal lymphocytes were found in all cases examined for lymph nodes biopsied. 4. From the cytomorphological point of view, leukotic cells were divided into 3 types: reticulum cell, lymphoid cell and monocytic cell types. The adult type leukotic cattle were divided with reticulum cell type (66.7%), the lymphoid cell type(22.6%) and monocytic cell type(6.7%). The thymic type was lymphoip cell type(72.7%) and reticulum cell type(27.3%). In the calf type, all were lymphoid cell type while all of the skin type were reticulum cell type only. 5. The leukotic cattle had higher NP frequency in the blood and lymphoid tissue than non-1 eukotic cattle. Especially the adult type had the highest NP frequency. However, it was not recognized that NP were characteristic of leukotic cattle alone. 6. The above findings lead to the conclusion that the most effective diagnostic methods for bovine leukosis are the confirmation of swelling of the superficial and internal lymph nodes and thymus in addition to appearance of abnormal neoplastic cell in the peripheral blood and lymph nodes biopsied.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.126-142
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• 2022

Background: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) are rare, and information regarding their surgical outcomes and prognostic factors has rapidly changed in the past few decades. We analyzed surgical treatment practices for TETs and outcomes in terms of overall survival (OS) and freedom from recurrence (FFR) during a 13-year period in Korea. Methods: In total, 1,298 patients with surgically resected TETs between 2000 and 2013 were enrolled retrospectively. OS and FFR were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and evaluated with the log-rank test. Prognostic factors for OS and FFR were analyzed with multivariable Cox regression. Results: A total of 1,098 patients were diagnosed with thymoma, and 200 patients were diagnosed with thymic carcinoma. Over the study period, the total number of patients with surgically treated TETs and the proportion of patients who underwent minimally invasive thymic surgery (MITS) increased annually. The 5-year and 10-year survival rates of surgically treated TETs were 91.0% and 82.1%, respectively. The 5-year and 10-year recurrence rates were 86.3% and 80.0%, respectively. The outcomes of surgically treated TETs improved over time. Multivariable Cox hazards analysis for OS, age, tumor size, and Masaoka-Koga stage were independent predictors of prognosis. The World Health Organization classification and tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) staging were also related to the prognosis of TETs. Conclusion: Surgical treatment of TETs achieved a good prognosis with a recent increase in MITS. The M-K stage was the most important prognostic factor for OS and FFR. The new TNM stage could also be an effective predictor of the outcomes of TETs.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.68-70
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• 2013

Thymoma is the most common anterior mediastinal mass in adult, and arises from thymic epithelial cells which includes consists various proportions of epithelial and lymphocytic aspect. Thymic epithelial cell arises from the ventral wings of the third and fourth branchial pouches in the embryo, and these cells are considered tumorous condition of thymoma. Surgical resection is main treatment of thymoma. And adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation is considered due to postoperative pathologic diagnosis. We experienced a tumor which located from left anterior neck along superior mediastinum on chest radiograph incidentally and diagnosed parathyroid adenoma clinically. After surgical removal, final pathologic report was thymoma. Here, we present the case with a review of the related literatures.