[Carcinoid tumor of the thymus]

Carcinoid tumor of the thymus is a rare tumor. It is difficult to detect thymic carcinoid tumors by conventional chest X-ray films. As a result many cases of thymic carcinoid tumor are discovered at an advanced stage. While it is difficult to make a definitive pathological diagnosis preoperatively, percutaneous needle biopsy by Surecut needle is possible. Median sternotomy is better than thoracotomy, as thymectomy and lymph nodes dissection are necessary. Of the 6 cases of thymic carcinoid tumors, 5 were diagnosed as atypical carcinoid histologically, and in 3 of those 5 cases lesions resembling small cell carcinoma were observed in some specimen. The causes of these advanced atypical thymic carcinoid cases were not good.