Case Reports : A Case of Pleural Metastasis 6 Years after Complete Surgical Resection of Invasive Thymoma

• Published in: Tuberculosis and respiratory diseases Vol. 70; no. 1; pp. 74 - 78
• Main Authors: Kwang Jin Woo, Yang Ki Kim, Ki Up Kim, Soo Taek Uh, Dong Won Kim, Jung Hwa Hwang, Yong Hoon Kim, Choon Sik Park
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 30.01.2011
• Subjects: Neoplasm Metastasis; Operative; Pleural Neoplasms; Recurrence; Surgical Procedures; Thymoma
• ISSN: 1738-3536; 2005-6184

Herein, we report a case of recurrent pleural metastasis after complete resection of invasive thymoma that was successfully treated with surgical resection. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma are uncommon neoplasms derived from the epithelial cells of the thymus. Approximately 30% to 50% of thymomas are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. However, these cancers may present with constitutional or local pressure symptoms and sometimes with paraneoplastic syndromes, especially myasthenia gravis. Surgical resection is the mainstay of thymoma treatment and has been shown to remarkably improve long-term survival. Despite complete resection, local recurrences are frequent, and surgery is the cornerstone of therapy even in cases of recurrent thymoma. We experienced a 67-year-old male patient with pleural metastasis that developed 6 years after complete surgical resection of invasive thymoma. The pleural mass was excised by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. Histopathological examination revealed an invasive World Health Organization (WHO) type B2 thymoma.