• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.98-104
• /
• 2010

Primary anterior mediastinal neoplasms comprise a diverse group of tumors and account for 50% of all mediastinal masses. Thymic epithelial neoplasm are most common and classified into thymoma, invasive thymoma, and thymic carcinoma. Neuroendocrine differentiation of thymic epithelial neoplasm are rare malignancies. Germ cell tumor (GCT) is second most common anterior mediastinal tumor and most of them are mature cystic teratoma. Malignant mediastinal GCT are rare than benign. Primary thoracic lymphoma is rare than thoracic involvement of systemic lymphoma and most common location of primary thoracic lymphoma is anterior mediastinum. The clinical and radiologic appearance of the most common masses are reviewed.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
• /
• v.41 no.3
• /
• pp.255-257
• /
• 2007

A 59-year-old man with thymic carcinoma underwent Tc-99m MIBI myocardial SPECT, and Tc-99m MIBI uptake in the mass was unexpectedly found in a planar image. SPECT images of the thorax showed an increased uptake area with central photon deficiency (a ring-like appearance), which reflected central tumor irreversible ischemia or progressing necrosis with peripheral viable tumor tissue.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.260-261
• /
• 2003

Tc-99m methoxyisobutylisonitrile (MIBI) and Tl-201/technetium subtraction scintigraphy have been used for localization of abnormal parathyroid gland. The uptake mechanism of tracers has been postulated to be increased cellular density and vascularity, or dependent on the presence of mitochondria-rich cells. However, the uptake of these tracers was not specific for abnormal parathyroid gland. The author report a case of thymic carcinoma that would have been mistaken for carcinoma of parathyroid because of Tc-99m MIBI and Tl-201 uptake.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.23 no.3
• /
• pp.561-565
• /
• 1990

We experienced thymolipoma which is a rare benign mediastinal tumor, an admixture of atrophic thymic tissue and matured adipose tissue. The patient was, 13 years old boy, admitted due to anterior mediastinal mass on routine chest X-ray and complained of mild exertional dyspnea. The physical examination revealed percussion dullness, decreased breathing sound at right anterior hemithorax. The chest PA and lateral views showed both paracardiac mass density and obliteration of retrosternal clear space. The chest CT Scan showed tubular structure containing of thymic tissue and enhanced fatty tissue, suggested thymolipoma. Operation was performed under the impression of thymolipoma. Through median sternotomy, the huge mass was resected. Grossly, the mass was yellowish fatty colored, measured 15X12X10cm, weighed 600gm. Light microscopic examination showed that thymic tissue containing of Hassal`s corpuscles were surrounded by matured adipose tissue, as the characteristic finding of thymolipoma. The postoperative course was uneventful.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.684-690
• /
• 2004

Background: Primary thymic epithelial neoplasm is a type of mediastinal tumors that have various biologic and morphologic features. In this study, we reclassified 59 cases of thymic epithelial tumors by the new WHO classification. We inquired whether the new WHO classification has independent prognostic relevance by analyzing clinical characteristics of thymic epithelial tumors including Masaoka's clinical stage. Material and Method: From December 1986 to August 2003, 59. patients who underwent surgery in the Keimyung University Dongsan Medical Center with definite diagnosis of thymic epithelial tumor were studied. We analyzed the histologic subtype (WHO classification). clinical stage (Masaoka's clinical stage) and patient's characteristics (sex, age, myasthenia gravis, tumor size, invasion. recurrence, metastasis) as prognostic factors. We analyzed the relationship between histologic subtype and clinical stage. Result: 32 patients were male and 27 were female. Mean age was 50.1$\pm$14.2. From WHO A to C, all thymic epithelial tumors were reclassified by the new WHO classification. Six patients (10.2%) had Type A, 7 (11.9%) had Type AB, 7 (11.9%) had Type B$_1$, 10 (16.9%) had Type B$_2$ and 7 (11.9%) had Type B$_3$, 22 (37.3%) had Type C. Two factors were shown by multivariate analysis to be associated with a favorable prognosis: completeness of resection (p=0.003) and non-invasiveness (p=0.001). The overall 5-year survival of the 59 patients was 53%, subtype A and AB were 92.3%, B$_1$ and B$_2$ were 70.2%, and B$_3$ and C were 26.1%. The association between histologic subtype and invasive behavior (stage) was statistically significant (p<0.001). Conclusion: The WHO classfication is not only a histologic classfication of the thymic epithelial tumors but also a significant prognostic factor that influence the survival of thymic epithelial tumors.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.33 no.8
• /
• pp.612-622
• /
• 2023

T-cell deficiency may occur in various clinical conditions including congenital defects, cell/organ transplantation, HIV infection and aging. In this regard, the development of artificial thymus has recently been attracting much attention. To achieve this aim, the development of techniques for 3D culture of thymic stromal cells is necessary because thymocytes grown only in a 3D thymic microenvironment can be differentiated fully to become mature, immunocompetent T cells; the same cannot be achieved for thymocytes grown in 2D. This study aimed to develop a nanotechnology-based 3D culture technique using polymeric scaffolds for thymic epithelial cells (TECs), the main component of thymic stromal cells. Scanning electron microscopic observation revealed that the pores of both PCL and PCL/PLGA scaffolds were filled with TECs. Interestingly, TECs grown in 3D on polydopamine-coated scaffolds exhibited enhanced cell attachment and proliferation compared to those grown on non-coated scaffolds. In addition, the gene expression of thymopoietic factors was upregulated in TECs cultured in 3D on polydopamine-coated scaffolds compared to those cultured in 2D. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrate an efficient 3D culture model for TECs using polymeric scaffolds and provide new insights into a novel platform technology that can be applied to develop functional, biocompatible scaffolds for the 3D culture of thymocytes. This will eventually shed light on techniques for the in vitro development of T cells as well as the synthesis of artificial thymus.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.470-474
• /
• 1984

33-year old female was admitted chest surgery department for evaluation of mild chest pain. Chest plain film showed right anterior mediastinal mass and small metastatic daughter mass ipsilateral side. Exploratory thoracotomy was performed 24th Aug. 83 revealed that small nodular parenchymal mass at right middle lobe and large cystic mass at anterior mediastinum which was connected with anterior mediastinal fat. Histological examination confirmed diagnosis as pulmonary hamartoma and thymic cyst individually. We successfully treated these two masses by wedge resection and excision. Although postoperative course was uneventful, the cause and associated relationship between two tumor origin were obscure.

• 대한방사선방어학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 2010.04a
• /
• pp.48-51
• /
• 2010

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.22 no.5
• /
• pp.806-810
• /
• 1989

There has been arguing in the proper surgical treatment of myasthenia gravis. But the ultimate goal of operation is complete removal of thymic tissues. In view of previous surgical-anatomic studies that there are frequently thymic tissues from the level of thyroid gland to the diaphragm and from hilum to hilum, en bloc resection of thymus, mediastinal fat including both sheets of pleura and pericardium is reasonable. We experienced four myasthenic patients with radical thymectomy from 1989. As compared to the result of previous simple thymectomy group, the 23 patients who were operated from 1976 to 1988[Group I ], excellent surgical outcome was obtained in radical thymectomy group[Group II ].

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.319-324
• /
• 2021

Robotic thymectomy has been adopted recently and has been shown to be safe and feasible in treating thymic tumors and myasthenia gravis. The surgical indications of robotic technology are expanding, with advantages including an excellent surgical view and sophisticated manipulation. Herein, we describe technical aspects, considerations, and outcomes of robotic thymectomy.