The tumor measured 5.4 x 4.3 x 2.5 mm in size. Figure H. Histologically the tumor is composed of polygonal cells arranged solid or trabecular pattern. The tumor shows squamous differentiation in some areas. All cells were positive for symaptophysin. Diagnosis of poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with endocrine feature was made.
Thymic carcinoma is a recently described rare neoplasm that occurs in adult patients.
Because the thymus gland may also be a site of metastatic disease, particularly from breast and lung cancer, a diagnosis of primary thymic carcinoma is made by excluding a primary carcinoma elsewhere. Radiographically, thymic carcinoma usually presents as a solid mass with poorly defined margins. It is a very aggressive lesion and often locally invasive. In contrast to invasive thymomas, which rarely metastasize outside the thorax, thymic carcinoma may metastasize hematogenously to distant organs. Medical Oncology Image Database Cover illustrations of JJCO published from Vol.