A case of Hodgkin's lymphoma of thymic origin

Abstract

A 32-year-old woman suffered from cough and fore-chest pain and was admitted to our hospital for the treatment of mediastinal tumor. Chest X-ray and chest computed tomography (CT) showed a large mass that had expanded on the left side of the anterior mediastinum. We preoperatively diagnosed it as invasive thymoma and performed a median sternotomy. Extended thymectomy with partial resection of the lung was performed. Microscopically, the multinodular tumor consisted of malignant cells containing Hodgkin/Reed-Sternberg cells, separated by fibrous tissue, which were positive for anti-CD15 and anti-CD30 antibody. Classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, nodular sclerosis Hodgkin's lymphoma, was diagnosed. Hodgkin's lymphoma usually originates in lymph nodes and is rare in the thymus. This patient underwent radiotherapy and is currently free from the disease at 10 months post-operatively. The patient will be followed carefully, because Hodgkin's lymphoma has a favorable prognosis with appropriate treatment.