Thymuskarzinome

Abstract

Thymic carcinomas (TC) are approximately 10 times less prevalent than thymomas but of high clinical relevance because they are more aggressive, less frequently resectable than thymomas and usually refractory to classical and targeted long-term treatment approaches. Furthermore, in children and adolescents TC are more frequent than thymomas and particularly in this age group, germ cell tumors need to be a differential diagnostic consideration. In diagnostic terms pathologists face two challenges: a), the distinction between thymic carcinomas and thymomas with a similar appearance and b), the distinction between TC and histologically similar metastases and tumor extensions from other primary tumors. Overcoming these diagnostic challenges is the focus of the new WHO classification of thymic epithelial tumors. The objectives of this review are to highlight novel aspects of the WHO classification of thymic carcinomas and to address therapeutically relevant diagnostic pitfalls.

Pembrolizumab in a Patient With Heavily Pre-Treated Squamous Cell Thymic Carcinoma and Cardiac Impairment: A Case Report and Literature Review

“…Based on the RARECARE project definition, thymoma, and thymic carcinomas defined as Thymic Epithelial Tumours [TETs] are rare cancers ( 1 ). The annual incidence of TETs has been estimated as 1.3–3.2 cases per million worldwide and thymic carcinomas are even rarer, accounting for only 0.06% of all thymic neoplasms ( 2 ). Thymic carcinoma (TC) can be histologically classified into several subtypes including squamous, basaloid, mucoepidermoid, sarcomatoid, small cell, adenocarcinoma lymphoepithelial-like, clear cell, and undifferentiated of which the squamous cell subtype is the most common and represents 73–79% of the total cases ( 3 – 5 ).…”

Curcumin inhibits cell viability, migration, and invasion of thymic carcinoma cells via downregulation of microRNA‐27a

“…Thymic carcinoma, a kind of thymic epithelial tumors, is a rare malignant tumor derived from mediastinum anterius, attached to the pericardium, and is closely related to the aorta (Strobel, Weis, & Marx, 2016). Thymic carcinoma is frequently asymptomatic in the early stages, but patients with thymic carcinoma suffer from severe irritating cough and excruciating chest pain in a short term.…”

The role of targeted therapy in thymic carcinoma

“…1 While the incidence of thymic neoplasms (thymic carcinomas and thymoma) has been estimated to be 0.13/100,000 (1% of all adult cancers), thymic carcinomas are extremely rare and constitute only 0.06% of all malignancies. 2 Thymic carcinomas have a much poorer prognosis than benign thymomas. 3 The 5-year survival for thymic carcinomas is estimated to be only 50% as compared to that of thymomas.…”