Tumors of the thymus

J Thorac Imaging. 1999 Jul;14(3):152-71. doi: 10.1097/00005382-199907000-00002.

Abstract

Thymic neoplasms are a common cause of an anterior mediastinal mass and may be benign or malignant. Thymic cysts are congenital or acquired and may be associated with a thymic malignancy. True thymic hyperplasia and thymic lymphoid hyperplasia may enlarge the thymus and simulate a neoplasm. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are epithelial malignancies with distinct clinicopathologic features. Thymic carcinoid is a rare aggressive neuroendocrine malignancy associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia 1. Thymolipoma is a benign neoplasm. Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma may primarily or secondarily involve the thymus. Primary mediastinal germ cell tumors may arise primarily within the thymus and include mature teratoma, seminoma, and non-seminomatous malignant germ cell tumors.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Cysts / diagnostic imaging
  • Cysts / pathology
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Endocrine System Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Endocrine System Diseases / pathology
  • Humans
  • Prognosis
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / diagnostic imaging
  • Thymus Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Thymus Neoplasms* / diagnostic imaging
  • Thymus Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed