Concurrent metastatic thymic carcinoma and postirradiation sarcoma

Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 Apr;93(4):1295-6. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2011.09.046.

Abstract

We present a case of concurrent metastatic thymic carcinoma and postirradiation sarcoma in the same lobe of the lung in a woman who had received partial resection of thymic carcinoma with chemoradiotherapy 11 years ago. One tumor showed similar histology to the previous carcinoma. The other tumor was a pleomorphic sarcoma, suggestive of a postirradiation sarcoma. Irradiation-induced sarcomas are rare and have not been reported in patients with thymic carcinoma. This case may serve as a model in considering the possibility of postirradiation sarcoma for patients encountering recurrent masses with the history of radiotherapy for thymic carcinoma several years ago.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Lung Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / diagnosis
  • Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / surgery*
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / surgery*
  • Sarcoma / etiology
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Sarcoma / surgery*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms / therapy*