Spontaneous regression of an invasive thymoma

Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2009 May;57(5):272-4. doi: 10.1007/s11748-008-0366-0. Epub 2009 May 15.

Abstract

Although there are many reports of spontaneous regression of noninvasive thymoma, there are no reports of spontaneous regression of an invasive thymoma. Moreover, the mechanism of the spontaneous regression is still unknown. The present case concerns a 47-year-old man who presented with chest pain. Computed tomography (CT) showed a large anterior mediastinal mass with left pleural effusion that occluded the innominate vein. The tissue obtained by video-assisted thoracic surgery suggested a diagnosis of invasive thymic carcinoma. One month later CT showed prominent regression of the tumor, and the tumor was completely resected. On pathology, the diagnosis was thymoma type B3.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chest Pain / etiology
  • Epithelium / pathology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Necrosis
  • Neoplasm Invasiveness
  • Remission, Spontaneous
  • Thoracic Surgery, Video-Assisted
  • Thymoma / complications
  • Thymoma / pathology*
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery