Pigmented spindle cell variant of a thymic atypical carcinoid in an octogenarian.
Atypical carcinoid
Pigmented carcinoid
Spindle cell carcinoid
Thymic carcinoid
Thymic neuroendocrine tumor
Journal
Surgical case reports
ISSN: 2198-7793
Titre abrégé: Surg Case Rep
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 101662125
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
06 Jan 2021
06 Jan 2021
Historique:
received:
27
10
2020
accepted:
09
12
2020
entrez:
7
1
2021
pubmed:
8
1
2021
medline:
8
1
2021
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
A pigmented carcinoid is an extremely rare variant of carcinoid characterized by melanin pigmentation of the tumor, with only five cases described in the literature. In addition, thymic carcinoids are rare in elderly patients and their prognosis after resection of the carcinoid tumor is unclear. An anterior mediastinal tumor was incidentally found in an 82-year-old man who had been diagnosed with acute thoracic empyema. The tumor was considered most likely to be a noninvasive thymoma or thymic carcinoma for which surgery was indicated after the resolution of the empyema. The tumor was completely resected 4 months after the empyema surgery, and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course. A cut surface of the resected specimen was extensively pigmented and appeared dark-brownish, with abundant melanin pigmentation later confirmed in the spindle-shaped tumor cells. Based on the histologic examination and immunohistochemical study, melanoma was eliminated as a differential diagnosis and the tumor was diagnosed as a pigmented atypical carcinoid of the thymus. This report provides additional knowledge on thymic pigmented carcinoids and thymic atypical carcinoids in elderly patients.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
A pigmented carcinoid is an extremely rare variant of carcinoid characterized by melanin pigmentation of the tumor, with only five cases described in the literature. In addition, thymic carcinoids are rare in elderly patients and their prognosis after resection of the carcinoid tumor is unclear.
CASE PRESENTATION
METHODS
An anterior mediastinal tumor was incidentally found in an 82-year-old man who had been diagnosed with acute thoracic empyema. The tumor was considered most likely to be a noninvasive thymoma or thymic carcinoma for which surgery was indicated after the resolution of the empyema. The tumor was completely resected 4 months after the empyema surgery, and the patient had an uneventful postoperative course. A cut surface of the resected specimen was extensively pigmented and appeared dark-brownish, with abundant melanin pigmentation later confirmed in the spindle-shaped tumor cells. Based on the histologic examination and immunohistochemical study, melanoma was eliminated as a differential diagnosis and the tumor was diagnosed as a pigmented atypical carcinoid of the thymus.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
This report provides additional knowledge on thymic pigmented carcinoids and thymic atypical carcinoids in elderly patients.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33409736
doi: 10.1186/s40792-020-01094-3
pii: 10.1186/s40792-020-01094-3
pmc: PMC7788128
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
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