2010 Volume 24 Issue 4 Pages 686-690
We report a rare case of a multilocular thymic cyst with calcification at its rim. A 29-year-old woman who experienced discomfort of the left anterior chest was referred to our hospital. Radiological examinations revealed a mass at the anterior mediastinum. The tumor was enhanced heterogeneously, accompanied by calcification at its rim, showing no invasion to the adjacent organs. We suspected that the tumor was a mature teratoma based on these findings, and performed VATS surgery to remove it. During surgery, the tumor, measuring 42×22×15 mm in size, was located in the left lobe of the thymus. Macroscopically, it showed a multilocular cyst containing yellowish keratinized material with a thickened, hard wall. Microscopically, cystic walls were lined with multi-layered keratinized squamous or cuboidal epithelium. There were no tissues such as those of skin, teeth, and nerves. Based on these findings, the tumor was diagnosed as a multilocular thymic cyst. Multilocular thymic cysts associated with some malignant or autoimmune diseases have been reported; however, our case did not show these complications.
