Thymic carcinoma overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Alejandro Lemor, M.D. [2]
Overview
Thymic carcinoma, also known as type C thymoma, is a rare condition (less than 0.13/100,000/year) but should be included in the differential diagnosis of anterior mediastinic masses. It is a tumor of the thymic epithelium, like thymoma, but it is associated with lack of immature lymphocytes and often presents with more invasive or metastatic disease. Thymic carcinomas can metastasize, generally to pleura, kidney, bone, liver or brain
Pathophysiology
The thymic carcinoma is a tumor of the thymic epithelium, but it is associated with lack of immature lymphocytes and often presents with more invasive or metastatic disease.[1] The pathophysiology of thymic carcinoma depends on the histological subtype. On microscopic histopathological analysis, thymic carcinoma is divided into squamous cell carcinoma, basaloid carcinoma, mucoepidermoid carcinoma, lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma, sarcomatoid carcinoma (carcinosarcoma), clear cell carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinoma, carcinoma with t(15;19) translocation, neuroendrocrine carcinomas, undifferentiated carcinoma, and combined thymic epithelial tumors.[2] Thymic carcinoma has not been reported in association with myasthenia gravis, in contrast with thymoma[3]
Causes
The cause of thymic carcinoma has not been identified.
Differentiating Thymic carcinoma from other Diseases
The most common differential diagnosis of thymic carcinoma is thymoma, which is the most common pathology of the thymus. Thymic carcinoma must be differentiated from other mediastinal masses such as germ cell tumors, lymphoma, thyroid tumors, and metastatic carcinoma to mediastinal lymph nodes.[4]
Epidemiology and Demographics
Risk Factors
Natural History, Complications and Prognosis
Staging
History and Symptoms
Physical Examination
Laboratory Findings
Chest X Ray
CT
MRI
Other Imaging Findings
Other Diagnostic Studies
Medical Therapy
Surgery
Primary Prevention
Secondary Prevention
References
- ↑ Thomas CR, Wright CD, Loehrer PJ (1999). "Thymoma: state of the art". Journal of Clinical Oncology : Official Journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 17 (7): 2280–9. PMID 10561285. Retrieved 2012-01-18. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Suster, S.; Rosai, J. (1991). "Thymic carcinoma. A clinicopathologic study of 60 cases". Cancer. 67 (4): 1025–32. PMID 1991250. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ Harris, C.C (2004), Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of the Lung, Pleura, Thymus and Heart (PDF), Lyon: IARC, retrieved 01/03/2016 Check date values in:
|accessdate=(help) - ↑ Travis WD, Organization WH, Cancer IA et al. Pathology and Genetics of Tumours of the Lung, Pleura, Thymus and Heart. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd.; 2004.