An autopsy case of malignant anterior mediastinal tumor, suspected to develop from cystoma reducing 7 years ago

Abstract

Malignant anterior mediastinal tumor with general hematogenic metastasis of a nurse,58 years old, was reported clinically and pathologically. In her personal history, anterior mediastinal tumor had been detected roentgenologically by chance 8years ago and disappeared spontaneously 1 year thereafter. She suffered again from venal caval syndrome and brain tumor recent 1 year. On autopsy, the primary tumor was hand-sized, solid, encapsulated with thick connective tissue, and located in the anterior-superior mediastinum. Hematogenic metastasis were found in the skull, brain, heart lungs and liver (urogenital organs and bones were not investigated). All of the tumors were composed of spindle cell carinoma with slight lymphoid cell infiltration and well vasculalization. Rosettes were detected in the cerebral foci. Neither cyst nor necrosis were observed in the tumor tissues. It is morphologically speculated that reduced thymic cyst changed to malignant, developed to a big solid tumor and caused general hematogenic metastasis.