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Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the thymus

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Abstract

Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the thymus is a rare cancer that is more aggressive and leads to a poorer prognosis than other thymic epithelial tumors. A 67-year-old woman presented with an anterior mediastinal mass in the thymus. Histological examination after thymectomy revealed large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the thymus. Although the patient received postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy, a distant relapse was detected 6 months after the surgery. We reviewed nine cases of this rare cancer that have been reported in Japan. There is no evidence of to support postoperative therapy for large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the thymus. However, it is essential to accumulate and study these cases to understand this disease and prolong patient survival.

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Correspondence to Seiji Mega.

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Mega, S., Oguri, M., Kawasaki, R. et al. Large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the thymus. Gen Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 56, 566–569 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-008-0299-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11748-008-0299-7

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