Diagnostic Features and Subtyping of Thymoma Lymph Node Metastases

Abstract

Aim. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the morphological features of thymoma metastases in lymph nodes and to evaluate the possibility of their subtyping according to the 2004 WHO classification of thymus tumors. Materials and Methods. We reviewed 210 thymoma cases in our series of thymic epithelial tumors (TET), including their recurrences and lymphogenous metastases. Three cases of lymph node metastases, one case occurring synchronously with the primary tumor and one synchronously with the first relapse (both in intrathoracic location) and one case of metastasis observed in a laterocervical lymph node subsequently to two thymoma relapses were found. Results. The metastatic nodes were variably but extensively involved in all cases. The histological features were similar in both primary tumors and metastases. Thymoma metastases were subtyped according to the WHO classification as B3 (one case) and B2 (two cases), and distinctive features in comparison to metastatic epithelial neoplasias from other sites were observed. Conclusion. Thymoma lymph node metastases, although rare, can be subtyped according to the WHO classification on the basis of their morphological and immunohistochemical features. Clinically, the presence of nodal metastases may herald subsequent relapses and further metastases even in extrathoracic sites.

Impact of Lymph Node Dissection on Thymic Malignancies: Multi-Institutional Propensity Score Matched Analysis

“…7 Lymph node metastases were of B-type, consistent with the more aggressive behavior of B-type thymoma and morphological hallmarks of B-type thymoma (i.e., perivascular spaces and perivascular palisades of epithelial cells were retained in lymph node metastases). [10][11][12] Apart from WHO subtypes, tumor size was a risk factor of lymph node metastasis in this study. Lymph node metastasis rate in tumors larger than 6 cm was significantly higher than that in tumors 6 cm or smaller.…”

LINC00174 is a novel prognostic factor in thymic epithelial tumors involved in cell migration and lipid metabolism

“…The malignant potential of thymomas may range from low to moderate, depending on tumor stage 23 . Thymomas in advanced stage, mostly B2 and B3 types, as thymic carcinomas (TC), are characterized by local relapse and/or pleural dissemination and lung metastases 24 . TCs resemble similarly termed carcinomas outside the mediastinum 25,26 .…”

Thymic Epithelial Tumors as a Model of Networking: Development of a Synergistic Strategy for Clinical and Translational Research Purposes

“…Anterior mediastinal lymph nodes are also included in the sampling, because they are usually removed by the surgeons together with the fat tissue of the anterior mediastinum (52). In surgically treated THY cases at IRE, we found a metastasis in only one case, in a laterocervical lymph node (53), which developed 9 years from the original diagnosis. Recently, the use of the digital pathology is growing at an exponential rate, and we have been scanning most of the representative slides.…”