A typical thymic carcinoid tumour within a thymolipoma: report of a case and review of combined tumours of the thymus

BMJ Case Rep. 2010 Nov 2:2010:bcr0420102958. doi: 10.1136/bcr.04.2010.2958.

Abstract

Thymolipomas are rare tumours located in the anterior mediastinum. Sometimes these tumours may be combined with thymomas or lymphomas. We present a unique case of a thymic carcinoid arising within a thymolipoma. A 68-year-old patient presented with chronic chest and neck pain, which was initially thought to be caused by coronary artery disease. A chest x-ray, exercise tolerance test and coronary angiography were unremarkable. The following CT scan of the neck and chest showed a small tumour in the anterior mediastinum. A robotic-assisted thymectomy was performed and histological examination revealed a neuroendocrine tumour of the thymus within a thymolipoma. The patient was discharged 3 days after surgery in good general condition.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Carcinoid Tumor / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Lipoma / diagnosis*
  • Male
  • Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed / diagnosis*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / diagnosis*