• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.497-501
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• 1994

We have experienced a case of primary thymic carcinoma. A 39 year old female patient admitted with incidentally detected mediastinal mass on chest film.The tumor showed invasion to surrounding tissues and the mediastinal lymphadenopathies were also noted. Invasion to contiguous mediastinal structures made complete surgical extirplation impossible and the biposy findings revealed primary thymic carcinoma. Primary thymic carcinoma is a rare neoplasm originating from the thymic epithelial cells. Clinical behavior of the thymic carcinoma is much different from it`s benign counterpart and several pathologic variants were reported.

• The Korean Journal of Cytopathology
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.36-42
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• 1991

We report 4 cases of malignant thymoma which were composed of 2 cases of invasive thymoma and 2 cases of thymic carcinoma. The cytologic findings of invasive thymoma were similar to those of benign thymoma. The distinctive cytologic features of thymic carcinoma were necrotic background, irregular clusters and individually scattered arrangement of anaplastic epithelial cells, and some scattered mature small lymphocytes. These findings may be found in the Hodgkin's lymphoma, seminoma, and metastatic squamous ceil carcinoma, undifferentiated carcinoma, and large ceil carcinoma of the lung. But, the feature of irregular clustering of anaplastic epithelial cell haying scanty cytoplasm was different from Hodgkin's lymphoma and seminoma. Clinical and radiologic findings as well as cytologic finding were helpful in differential diagnosis of thymic carcinoma from metastatic carcinoma.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.718-722
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• 1999

Thymoma is the most common tumor in the compartment of anterior mediastinum. The malignant thymoma is classified into invasive thymoma(category I) and thymic carcinoma(category II). Recently, well-differentiated thymic carcinoma is a proposed category 1.5 used to describe a subset of thymic epithelial tumors, allowing for the existence of intermediate form based on the clinical features and the histological characteristics. Thymic cyst is a congenital or a acquired disorder. Congenital thymic cyst may develop due to failure of the thymopharyngeal duct to obliterate and acquired thymic cyst develops from inflammation(multilocular thymic cyst), or neoplasm(cystic thymoma). Cystic degeneration in thymoma is a relatively frequent but focal event. In rare cases, the process proceeds to the extent that most or all of the lesion becomes cystic. Until now, well-differentiated thymic carcinoma with extensive cystic degeneration has not been reported in our country. We experienced a case of 14 year-old female patient showing extensive cystic degeneration in well-differentiated thymic carcinoma. And so we report it with review of the articles related.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2003

Ectopic cervical thymic tumor, first described in 1941 by Boman, is a rare tumor of the neck displaying the same histologic features as mediastinal thymoma. It was classified into benign thymoma, invasive (or malignant) thymoma, thymic carcinoma histopathologically and clinically. The ectopic cervical thymic tumor is misdianosed as the thyroidal mass on radiologic examination and FNA cytology due to its rarity and unusual location. Recently, we have experienced two cases of ectopic cervical thymic tumor misdiagnosed as thyroid mass ; a case of thymic carcinoma;the other of invasive thymoma. So, we report these cases with review of the literature.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.67-70
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• 2007

A thymic carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm of the thymus epithelium, which can be distinguished from a benign or invasive thymoma. Contrary to a thymoma, the association of a thymic carcinoma and autoimmune disease is rare, with only a few cases having been reported. Herein, a case of thymic carcinoma diagnosed concurrently with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is reported. A 49 year-old man presented at our clinic with myalgia. He was diagnosed with SLE, based on an oral ulcer, lymphopenia, and positive ANA and anti-Sm antibodies. Incidentally, a routine chest X-ray showed a large mediastinal mass. Pathological examination of the mediastinal mass revealed an undifferentiated thymic carcinoma, of WHO classification type C. Further work-up for staging showed multiple bone and lung metastases. With a palliative aim, he received systemic chemotherapy, but refused further chemotherapy after the $2^{nd}$ course. Currently, the patient has not been followed up since the chemotherapy.

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

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2745-2748
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• 2012

Aims: To study KIT (CD117) expression in thymic epithelial tumors in China, and investigate diagnostic and clinical significance. Material and Methods: Thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) from 102 patients (3 type A, 29 type AB, 5 type B1, 22 type B2, 29 typeB3 and 16 thymic carcinomas) were examined. Immunohistochemical staining with an antic-kit monoclonal antibody was performed on a tissue microarray. Relationships between KIT positive expression and the TET clinical characteristics (WHO histologic classification and Masaoka stage system) were analysed. Results: The KIT positive expression rate was significantly higher in thymic carcinoma (60%, 9/16) than in thymoma (8%, 7/86), a strong correlation being found with the WHO classification, but not the Masaoka tumor stage. The overall survival for patients with KIT positive lesions was significantly worse. Conclusions: KIT is a good molecule marker to differentially diagnose thymic carcinoma from thymoma, while also serving as a predictor of prognosis for TETs. Further research into KIT mutations in Chinese TETs should be conducted to assess the efficacy of targeted therapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.131-137
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• 2013

Purpose: We evaluated treatment outcomes of thymic carcinomas to determine prognostic factors for survival. Materials and Methods: Between May 1988 and May 2009, 41 patients had pathologic diagnosis of thymic carcinoma in Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Of these, 40 patients were followed up to 188 months after treatment. The mean age of all patients was 58.3 years and male to female ratio was 23 to 17. Results: Among 30 patients who underwent surgical resection, 26 achieved R0 resection and postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) was performed in 22 patients (73%). Various chemotherapeutic regimens were given with local treatment modalities, surgery and/or radiotherapy, in 12 patients. The 5-year locoregional control (LRC), distant metastasis-free survival, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival were 79.4%, 53.0%, 42.6%, and 63.6%, respectively. Patients with Masaoka stage I or II showed excellent prognosis of 5-year PFS around 90%. In advanced stages, invasion of the great vessels or atrium by thymic carcinomas was negative prognostic factor for PFS in univariate analysis. Lymph node involvement was statistically significant factor for LRC and PFS. Local or regional recurrence was infrequent after surgical resection followed by PORT, while distant metastasis was the major component of treatment failure. Conclusion: Complete resection followed by PORT provided remarkable local control without severe acute toxicities in patients with stage II and favorable stage III thymic carcinoma. Invasion of the great vessels or atrium was statistically significant prognostic factor for PFS.

• Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.255-257
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• 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 Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.458-464
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• 2011

Background : Advanced thymic cancer still remains as an intractable disease. The survival rate of advanced thymic cancer could be increased through chemotherapy and radiation, but the results have not been satisfactory. Objectives : To see whether wheel balanced therapy (WBT) has the therapeutic effects or not on advanced thymic cancer patient. Methods : A patient diagnosed with progression of thymic carcinoma with pleura metastasis visited the East-West Cancer Center (EWCC) on Feb 9th, 2011. The patient was treated with WBT for a period of 9 weeks from Feb 9th to Apr 16th. She stayed 6 weeks in hospital and took oriental medicine prescribed by EWCC. Computed tomography (CT) and blood test were used to evaluate the disease progression of the patient. Results : Mass of chest CT was stable for 2 months. The patient's quality of life improved during her hospital stay. Conclusions : This case study supports WBT may have efficacy in treating advanced thymic cancer patients.