Aberrant thymoma in the anterior mediastinum. A case report.

Authors

  • Leonides Pernía Planas HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO “CELIA SÁNCHEZ MANDULEY” MANZANILLO
  • Carmen Esther Remón Chávez HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO “CELIA SÁNCHEZ MANDULEY” MANZANILLO
  • Álvaro Fernández Viera HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO “CELIA SÁNCHEZ MANDULEY” MANZANILLO
  • Félix Pérez Aguilar HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO “CELIA SÁNCHEZ MANDULEY” MANZANILLO

Keywords:

THYMOMA, MEDIASTINAL NEOPLASMS.

Abstract

The thymic gland may be the place for a variety of malign and benign neoplasias.  Although these tumors  are relatively weird in the population, they are  interest in the  medical literature for their clinical- pathological  manifestations. It is reported a case of a 45 year-old woman who presented minor  right thoracic pain and dispnea with a mediastinal right anterior enlargement perceived in a thoracic radiography (lateral post- anterior view). The computerized tomography showed a hyperdense area,  with homogeneous contrast .  The transternal mediastinotomy  was performed and a soft, yellowish tumor wa spotted. It was histologically diagnosed as a lymphocytic thymoma. The thymoma is a benign epithelial tumor of low grade, generally located in the upper anterior mediastinum. Nevertheless, when there is an ectopic or an aberrant gland, there may be found thymomas in some other mediastinal regions, such as the neck,  hilus pulmonary, thyroid glands, lung or pleura.

 The thymomas are the second most frequent neoplasias in the mediastinum with a 20% and the first neoplasias in the upper anterior mediastinum. They are not commonly presented in childhood and the major incidence lies in the third and fifth decades. They are usually symptomathic and the symptoms may be lymphocitic, epithelial (or both) . The mixt term lymphocitic and epithelial is used as a synonym of lymphoepithelioma. In literature there are numerous reports about the adequate treatment of thymoma , including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or the combination of both. Thymomas are surgically treated obtaining great results .

The diagnosed researches with image techniques are important and essential when determining the presence of tumors and their extension to adjacent structures. Systematic thorax radiographies consiting on a post anterior and lateral  view and the TAC may show   the thymomas.  These tumors appear frequently as lobe masses, smooth in the upper side of the anterior mediastinum and they are generally projected in one  hemithorax. The mass  may be calcified, containing grease or be cystic and it is less frequent in the anterior – inferior mediastinum, like in this case.

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References

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Published

2010-01-06

How to Cite

1.
Pernía Planas L, Remón Chávez CE, Fernández Viera Álvaro, Pérez Aguilar F. Aberrant thymoma in the anterior mediastinum. A case report. RM [Internet]. 2010 Jan. 6 [cited 2025 Jun. 5];14(1). Available from: https://revmultimed.sld.cu/index.php/mtm/article/view/1605

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2010)

Section

CASOS CLÍNICOS

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