Abstract
Gross examination of excised anterior mediastinal masses can often provide important diagnostic information. This chapter presents an approach to that process which is based on generic macroscopic patterns. They include enlargement of the thymus with retention of its overall architecture; prominent cystic change (either unilocular or multilocular); encapsulated solid growth; unencapsulated solid masses with internal necrosis and/or hemorrhage; homogeneously-solid lesions whose cut surfaces resemble “fish-flesh;” unencapsulated masses with a “gritty” cut surface; and proliferations with gross appearances that do not fit into any of the afore-mentioned categories. Macroscopic analysis can initiate a proper consideration of differential diagnostic possibilities in this context.
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Wick, M.R., Bishop, J.A. (2020). Gross Pathology of Lesions in the Thymic Region. In: Jain, D., Bishop, J.A., Wick, M.R. (eds) Atlas of Thymic Pathology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3164-4_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3164-4_6
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