A case of atypical carcinoid of the thymus

Abstract

We report a rare case of atypical carcinoid of the thymus. A 77-year-old man was referred to our hospital because of precordialgia and an abnormal chest shadow. A CT scan demonstrated an anterior mediastinal mass, measuring 8.0 cm in diameter. Preoperative FDG-PET showed abnormal accumulation in the lesion. The diagnosis of atypical carcinoid of the thymus was confirmed based on pathological findings from biopsy material. We performed extended thymectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. The postoperative pathological diagnosis revealed atypical carcinoid of the thymus and no metastases of mediastinal lymph nodes. The patient was free of clinically evident recurrence 2 years after treatment. Preoperative diagnosis is necessary for systematic nodal dissection and an adequate surgical margin. Moreover, we think that FDG-PET is useful as an adjunct to the diagnosis and follow-up of thymic carcinoid.