[Morphology and clinical picture of thymus carcinoid]

A large mediastinal tumour was discovered radiologically in a 50-year-old man, with at times blood-tinged sputum and dyspnoea. Parasternal needle biopsy revealed a thymic carcinoid. After surgical excision of the tumour, which had argyrophilic foci (total weight of tumour 1,605 g), histochemical analysis demonstrated neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin and chromogranin, as well as calcitonin (as the only hormone). For the first time in a thymic carcinoid, radioimmunoassay demonstrated growth-hormone-releasing hormone (2 micrograms/g tumour tissue). Post-operative radiotherapy (total dosage 50.5 Gy) was instituted because histological examination had shown invasion of the capsule and blood vessels. There has been no local recurrence or metastases after three years.