Unusual combined thymic mucoepidermoid carcinoma and thymoma: a case report and review of literature

Diagnostic Pathology

Zhi Li²  Xiao-ying Tian¹  Bin Li²  Yang Li²  Shi-gang Wu³ 

[1] School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University 7, Baptist University Road, Kowloon Tong, Hong Kong, China;Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 58, Zhongshan Road II, Guangzhou 510080, China;Department of Pathology, Qingyuan People’s Hospital B24, Yinquan Road, Qingcheng District, Qingyuan City 511518, China

关键词: Differential diagnosis;    Thymoma;    Mucoepidermoid carcinoma;    Combined thymic epithelial tumor;    Thymic neoplasm;   

Others  :  803509
DOI  :  10.1186/1746-1596-9-8

 received in 2013-12-11, accepted in 2013-12-31,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

In rare condition, combined thymic epithelial tumors showing either type A or type B thymomas areas combined with thymic carcinoma components may occur in thymus. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) of the thymus is rare in thymic carcinoma, and so far there is no report to describe a combined epithelial tumor of thymus with MEC component. We report an unusual case of combined thymic MEC/type B2 thymoma in a middle-aged male occurring in a mass of anterior mediastinum. Case report: A 51-year-old Chinese male patient presented with a 6-month history of right ptosis and progressive muscle weakness. Computed tomography (CT) examination revealed a solitary, well-circumscribed mass was in the anterior mediastinum with mild heterogeneous enhancement. Histologically, the mass contained two separated components and displayed typically histological features of low-grade MEC and type B2 thymoma, respectively. There was no gradual transition of these two components observed in mass, and no enlarged lymph node was found in the surrounding tissues. A diagnosis of combined thymic MEC/type B2 thymoma was made. The patient received thymectomy to resect the mass totally. After surgery, chemotherapy with regiments of cisplatin and mitomycin, and radiotherapy of the main tumor bed were performed on the patient. There was no evidence of tumor recurrence during the period of 12 months follow-up.

Conclusion

To our best knowledge, this is the first report of combined thymic epithelial tumor with MEC component. Although this tumor is rare, the diagnosis of a thymic MEC should be taken into consideration when a combined epithelial tumor is occasionally encountered in thymus.

Virtual slides

The virtual slide(s) for this article can be found here: http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/9721397571157894 webcite

【 授权许可】

   
2014 WU et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

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