Surgical therapy of thymic carcinoid tumor

Abstract

Thymic carcinoid is a rare, slow-growing malignant tumor that tends of recur long after its resection. Three cases of thymic carcinoid treated in our department were examined focusing on the initial operative method and recurrence. The tumor with adhesion to peripheral tissue was peeled off at the initial operation, with local recurrence developing. In the pathological findings, all tumors had a capsule, but many carcinoid cells invaded into the capsule. The metastasis of mediastinal lymphnodes was recognized in one of three cases at the initial operation, and in all of three at the reoperation. Accordingly, the surgical treatment of thymic carcinoid should follow the resection of peripheral tissue and dissection of the mediastinal lymphnodes. The recurrence of thymic carcinoid should be aggressively resected, because long survival case can be expected with reoperation.