Microthymoma and microscopic thymomas associated with a thymic cyst without solid component

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2018 May;66(5):303-306. doi: 10.1007/s11748-017-0808-7. Epub 2017 Aug 5.

Abstract

A 75-year-old asymptomatic man presented with an anterior mediastinal cyst without a solid component on computed tomography. Pathologic examination of the specimens obtained by thoracoscopic resection showed a thymic cyst with a 1.6-mm type A microthymoma in the surrounding thymic tissue. In addition, there were multiple hyperplastic nodules smaller than 1 mm histologically corresponded to microscopic thymomas. The patient underwent completion thymectomy through median sternotomy; thereafter, there was no residual thymic neoplasm detected. This was the first case report of a type A microthymoma. Microthymoma or microscopic thymoma could be present concomitantly with a thymic cyst without a solid component.

Keywords: Microthymoma; Thymic cyst; Thymoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Humans
  • Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Male
  • Mediastinal Cyst / complications*
  • Mediastinal Cyst / surgery
  • Neoplasm, Residual / surgery
  • Sternotomy / methods
  • Thymectomy / methods
  • Thymoma / complications*
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed