Type A Thymoma with Spinal and Cranial Metastases: A Case Report
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Updated: Jul 30, 2025
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Published on: February 3, 2023
Antonio Cusano1, Ian J Wellington1, Faripour A Forouhar2
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, University of Connecticut, Farmington, Connecticut, United States.
Introduction:
While metastases of malignant thymomas have been shown, type A thymomas are often treated as benign. Type A thymomas often have excellent response to treatment, low recurrence rate, and a small malignant potential. To date, there have been no reports of type A thymomas with spinal metastases.
Case Report:
A 66-year-old female with a type A thymoma metastatic to the T7 and T8 vertebral bodies and brain, with associated pathologic burst fracture, collapse of T7, and significant focal kyphosis . The patient underwent successful T7-T8 posterior corpectomy and T4-T11 posterior spinal fusion. At 2 years of follow-up, she was ambulating without assistive devices and completed spinal radiation and initial chemotherapy.
Conclusion:
Metastatic type A thymoma is a rare phenomenon. While traditionally thought to have low recurrence rates and overall excellent survival rates, our case suggests that the biologic malignant potential of a type A thymoma may not be fully understood.
