Report of a case of thymic carcinoid diagnosed by fine needle cytology

Abstract

We report a thymic tumor of a 61 year-old male with cough and dyspnea, diagnosed as carcinoid by fine needle cytology.
CT scan showed a tumor with sharp border and homogeneous density in the anteriosuperior mediastinum, measuring 5×3×8cm.
Ultrasonically guided fine needle cytology was performed. The tumor cells are small and monomorphic, with oval to round nuclei containing 1 to 3 nucleoli and fine granular chromatin. The nuclear membranes are delicate. Multinucleated cells and mitotic figures are present. The cytoplasm is granular, the nucleus being occasionally eccentrically located. The tumor cells are arranged in loose sheets, showing a trabecular pattern with rosette formation.
It was impossible to resect the tumor completely, because of its infiltrative growth into the superior vena cava and the pericardium. Thymic carcinoid is a relatively uncommon and slow-growing tumor, but it should be regarded as potentially malignant.