Malignant Transformation of Metaplastic Thymoma into High-Grade Sarcomatoid Carcinoma: A Case Report

The correlation of histogenesis between metaplastic thymoma and thymic sarcomatoid carcinoma is unclear. We report a case of metaplastic thymoma transformed into high-grade sarcomatoid carcinoma. A 64 × 54 × 32 mm anterior mediastinal mass in a 61-year-old woman microscopically consisted mainly of classic metaplastic thymoma, with the center dominated by high-grade sarcomatoid carcinoma. In some areas, both epithelial and spindle cell components of the metaplastic thymoma showed increased cellular atypia, mitotic activity, and focal necrosis and gradually transformed into the polygonal/pleomorphic and spindle cell components of sarcomatoid carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, the characteristics of the polygonal/pleomorphic sarcomatoid cells were similar to those of the epithelial component of metaplastic thymoma, while the spindle sarcomatoid cells were more similar to the spindle cells component of metaplastic thymoma. The Ki-67 index was less than 5% in the metaplastic thymoma areas but up to 70% in the sarcomatoid carcinoma area. Radical operation and postoperative radiotherapy were performed. Multifocal relapses at the pleura occurred 13 months after surgery.

Rare Case of Mediastinal Myeloid Sarcoma

Myeloid sarcoma is a rare tumor mass with extra medullary growth pattern, composed of myeloblast or immature myeloid cells. Myeloid sarcoma (MS) is a distinct clinical presentation of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) where less than 1% of patients present with prominent extra medullary disease which most commonly involves the bone, skin, lymph node, soft tissues, gastrointestinal tract or testes. The recommended treatment regimen in isolated myeloid sarcoma or with bone marrow involvement is upfront systemic chemotherapy. We report a case of a young female with anterior mediastinal mass diagnosed as myeloid sarcoma which was refractory to chemotherapy.

Case Report: Surgical Therapy for Left Innominate Vein Aneurysm Under Thoracoscopy

Left innominate vein aneurysm is extremely rare, with a limited number of case reports present in the literature. Herein, we report a case of a 50-year-old female patient presenting with an incidental finding of an anterior mediastinal mass on chest radiography during a routine health examination. Contrast-enhanced computerized tomography (CT) of the chest showed a 4.8 × 4.6 cm anterior mediastinal mass with significant homogenous enhancement after injection of the contrast medium, suggesting a diagnosis of Castleman's disease, but not excluding thymoma. The patient underwent surgical resection of the anterior mediastinal mass under a thoracoscopic approach. Postoperative pathology confirmed the diagnosis of a left innominate vein aneurysm. This is the first case reporting a left innominate vein aneurysm resected under thoracoscopy. Despite this successful treatment experience, we need to emphasize that open thoracotomy or median sternotomy should be chosen as the first choice for surgeons who lack experience in thoracoscopic surgery, with the aim of avoiding intraoperative accidents.

Single-Incision Port Robot-Assisted Surgery for Thymic Carcinoid Tumor Resection

Background: Multiple endocrine neoplasia (MEN) is divided into MEN type 1 (MEN-1) and MEN type 2 (MEN-2). MEN-1 may be associated with thymic carcinoid tumors. We present a case of the surgical removal of a thymic carcinoid associated with MEN-1 via a single-incision port RATS.Case presentation: A 39-year-old male patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN-1) who had an anterior mediastinal mass was referred to our hospital. The patient had undergone total parathyroidectomy and auto-transplantation of a partial parathyroid for hyperparathyroidism 6 years ago. Chest computed tomography revealed an isolated anterior mediastinal mass on the thymic gland with a maximum diameter measuring 22 mm. Thymic carcinoid tumor is classified as MEN-1 and has a poor prognosis, so we decided to remove the tumor. Single-incision port RATS was performed, and thymic carcinoid was confirmed in pathology.Conclusions: This report demonstrates that thymic carcinoid tumor removal is feasible and easy to perform via single-incision port RATS.

Peri-operative anaesthesia challenges in large anterior mediastinal mass - A case report

Thymic mass is a rare tumor in the anterior mediastinum. They are usually of unknown etiology. About 50% of patients are diagnosed incidentally on chest radiographs. A 45 years, BMI-28, male patient presented to cardiac outpatient department with breathlessness and persistent cough for past three months. He also complained of generalized fatigue and nonspecific chest pain. On chest x-ray (PA view), there were diffuse opacities in middle and lower zone and no tracheal compression or deviation. Lateral neck X-ray also ruled out any airway compression. Computed tomography thorax revealed a huge mass occupying the prevascular compartment of mediastinum and insinuating the visceral compartment bilaterally with extension upto bilateral cardiophrenic and anterior costophrenic angles. CT-guided biopsy was consistent with thymolipoma which was surgically resected.Thymolipomas usually present with nonspecific symptoms. They pose a huge anaesthetic challenge during the peri-operative period in terms of difficult intubation, co-existing airway compression requiring reinforced tubes and fiberoptic guidance, the possibility of sudden airway collapse post-induction, risk of hypoxemia secondary to reduced functional residual capacity (FRC) and haemodynamic disturbances during and after removal of huge mass.

Malignant giant solitary fibrous tumour of the mediastinum; masquerading Triton tumour

Background Malignant Solitary fibrous tumour (SFT) is an uncommon mesenchymal tumour with aggressive clinical behaviour as compared to its benign counterpart. There are only a handful of reports of extra-pleural malignant SFT arising from the mediastinum. Case presentation A 68-year-old male, presented with a history of cough and breathlessness for 2 weeks. Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a large 11.6 × 11.3x18cm anterior mediastinal mass with extension to right hemithorax. The patient underwent excision of the mass after a biopsy confirmation of mesenchymal tumour. Histological examination of resection specimen revealed a spindle cell tumour with hypo and hypercellular areas, arranged in fascicular, focal storiform and hemangio-pericytomatous vasculature pattern. Moderate to marked nuclear atypia, frequent mitosis and areas of necrosis were noted. On immunohistochemistry (IHC), the tumour cells were positive for CD34, Bcl2, MIC2 (dot-like) and focally for S100 and Desmin. Although, the possibility of a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour with heterologous rhadomyosarcomatous differentiation (Triton tumour) was considered, however IHC for STAT6 confirmed it to be a malignant SFT. The patient developed recurrence within 1 year after surgery and despite multi-modality treatment (Re-excision, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy) succumbed within 14 months from point of presentation. Conclusion Malignant SFT is a rare aggressive tumour that should be considered as a differential diagnosis in the mediastinum and a broad panel of IHC markers including STAT6 may be required to confirm the diagnosis.

Cardiac tamponade as the first presentation of thymoma: A case report during COVID-19 pandemic

We report a case of neoplastic cardiac tamponade, a life-threatening condition, as the initial presentation of an anterior mediastinal malignancy. A 69-year-old gentleman with no known history of malignancy presented to the emergency department with shortness of breath, reduced effort tolerance and chronic cough. Clinically, he was not in distress but tachycardic. He was subjected to echocardiography which revealed large pericardial effusion with tamponade effect. Pericardiocentesis drained 1.5 L of haemoserous fluid. CECT thorax, abdomen and pelvis revealed an anterior mediastinal mass with intrathoracic extension complicated with mass effect onto the right atrium and mediastinal vessels. Ultrasound-guided biopsy histopathology examination revealed thymoma. Due to locally advanced disease, tumour resection was not possible, and patient was referred to oncology team for chemoradiotherapy. We report this case study not only due to the rarity of the case but also to highlight its diagnostic challenge due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Good’s syndrome – Nothing Good about it: A Case Report.

We report a rare case of Good’s Syndrome (GS) or thymoma with immunodeficiency in a 48-year-old male patient. This condition presents in the fourth or fifth decade of life. GS should be suspected in a person presenting with recurrent bacterial infections with encapsulated organisms and opportunistic viral and fungal infections in the setting of thymoma, hypogammaglobulinemia and reduced or absent B cells. Our patient presented with chronic diarrhoea for the past three years, repeated esophageal candidiasis and a superior anterior mediastinal mass. Duodenal biopsy showed CMV duodenitis. Lab investigations revealed low IgM levels [hypogammaglobulinemia] and the biopsy from the mediastinal mass was consistent with thymoma. This case is being written to highlight that unexplained repeated opportunistic microbial infections should prompt the clinician to suspect immunodeficiency in the background of a negative HIV status and to emphasize that GS is one of the causes of adult-onset immunodeficiency where early recognition and treatment can improve and alter the course of the disease as GS carries a worse prognosis compared to XLA [X-linked agammaglobulinemia] and CVID [common variable immunodeficiency].