Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) associated lymphoepithelioma-like thymic carcinoma associated with paraneoplastic syndrome of polymyositis: a rare tumor with rare association

Clin Nucl Med. 2009 Oct;34(10):686-8. doi: 10.1097/RLU.0b013e3181b53f5a.

Abstract

Thymic carcinomas are rare neoplasms representing less than 1% of all thymic malignancies arising from thymic epithelium. Lymphoepithelioma-like thymic carcinoma is a high grade neoplasm with aggressive features and frequent metastasis. Association of lymphoepithelioma-like thymic carcinomas with Epstein-Barr virus was observed in several previously reported case reports. Paraneoplastic syndromes have been reported with lymphoepithelioma-like thymic carcinoma. We report a case of rare association of paraneoplastic syndrome of polymyositis with lymphoepithelioma-like thymic carcinoma. The case highlights generalized increase in fluoro-deoxy-glucose uptake in the skeletal muscles indicating biopsy proven polymyositis-a paraneoplastic syndrome.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Carcinoma / complications*
  • Carcinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Carcinoma / virology*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / complications*
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / diagnostic imaging
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes / virology
  • Polymyositis / complications*
  • Polymyositis / diagnostic imaging
  • Polymyositis / virology
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Thymus Neoplasms / virology
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed