An unusual case of thymic carcinoma with endobronchial metastases manifesting as centrilobular opacities

J Thorac Imaging. 2006 Aug;21(3):238-40. doi: 10.1097/01.rti.0000213553.23634.23.

Abstract

We report a case of a 75-year-old man having unusual manifestation of thymic carcinoma associated with endobronchial metastases. To our knowledge, endobronchial metastases secondary to thymic carcinoma has not been reported in the literature. On high-resolution computed tomograms, the tree-in-bud centrilobular opacities caused by metastatic cells accumulating within the small bronchioles is indistinguishable from that caused by inflammatory process. Thus, in patients with thymic carcinoma and persistent tree-in-bud centrilobular opacities, endobronchial metastatic disease should be considered.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Bronchial Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Bronchial Neoplasms / secondary
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Lung / diagnostic imaging*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Lung Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Lung Neoplasms / secondary
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Thymoma / pathology*
  • Thymus Gland / pathology*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed*