Abstract
Invasive thymoma usually extends into neibouring structures such as the pericardium, mediastinal pleura, innominate vein, superior vena cava, or lung. Endobronchial growth of thymoma is very rare. We present a patient with recurrent thymoma showing endobronchial extension. A 59-year-old woman complained of hoarseness and hemosputum. She had undergone resection operation of an invasive thymoma six years previously. Chest roentgenograms and CT revealed a mass in the left hilum. Bronchoscopy revealed a polypoid mass obstructing the upper division bronchus of the left upper lobe. The patient received systemic chemotherapy with Cisplatin, Vincristine, Doxorubicin and Cyclophosphamide. The tumor regressed after two courses of the anticancer treatment. In the treatment of invasive thymoma, we should take unusual growth patterns, such as endobronchial extension, into consideration.
