A spontaneous reduction in tumor size of a thymic carcinoma: a case report

Abstract

Background: Spontaneous regression of thymic carcinoma is extremely rare. We report a case of a resected thymic carcinoma with preoperative spontaneous regression in a 67-year-old woman.

Case presentation: The patient presented with low-grade fever and anterior chest pain. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed a 55 × 43 mm exophytic heterogeneously enhancing mass showing some areas of necrosis. Chest CT done one day preoperatively revealed that the tumor had rapidly shrunk for one month. Surgical resection was performed to obtain a definitive diagnosis and achieve complete resection, yielding a postoperative diagnosis of thymic carcinoma. The patient survived without signs of recurrence for 12 months postoperatively.

Conclusions: Mediastinal tumors with necrosis demonstrating spontaneous regression should include thymic carcinomas in the differential diagnosis.

Keywords: Spontaneous regression; Surgery; Thymic carcinoma.

Fig. 1

Chest computed tomography scan revealing a 55 × 43-mm exophytic heterogeneously enhancing mass exhibiting some areas of necrosis

Fig. 2

Chest computed tomography scan just before the operation revealing that the mass had regressed in size in the past month

Fig. 3

A Histopathology revealing squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus (A) (hematoxylin and eosin stain) and a large necrotic area in the center of the tumor (B) (hematoxylin and eosin stain)