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Spontaneous regression of an invasive thymoma

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Abstract

Although there are many reports of spontaneous regression of noninvasive thymoma, there are no reports of spontaneous regression of an invasive thymoma. Moreover, the mechanism of the spontaneous regression is still unknown. The present case concerns a 47-year-old man who presented with chest pain. Computed tomography (CT) showed a large anterior mediastinal mass with left pleural effusion that occluded the innominate vein. The tissue obtained by video-assisted thoracic surgery suggested a diagnosis of invasive thymic carcinoma. One month later CT showed prominent regression of the tumor, and the tumor was completely resected. On pathology, the diagnosis was thymoma type B3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Respiratory Disease Center, Division of Thoracic Surgery, Kitano Hospital Medical Research Institute, 2-4-20 Ogimachi, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-8480, Japan

    Yojiro Yutaka, Mitsugu Omasa, Kei Shikuma, Masato Okuda & Toshihiko Taki

Authors
  1. Yojiro Yutaka
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  2. Mitsugu Omasa
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  3. Kei Shikuma
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  4. Masato Okuda
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  5. Toshihiko Taki
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Correspondence to Yojiro Yutaka.

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Yutaka, Y., Omasa, M., Shikuma, K. et al. Spontaneous regression of an invasive thymoma. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 57, 272–274 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-008-0366-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-008-0366-0

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