Thymic carcinoma: case reports and review

Thymic carcinoma is a rare malignant neoplasm of the thymic epithelium, distinguished from invasive thymoma by the presence of malignant cytology and a greater incidence of local invasion and embolic metastases. Some common features of thymic carcinomas include (a) large and highly aggressive anterior mediastinal mass; (b) areas of necrosis, hemorrhage, calcification, or cyst formation; (c) gross invasion of contiguous mediastinal structures and wide spread to involve distant intrathoracic sites; (d) high incidence of extrathoracic metastases; (e) broad age range, with an average of 46 years; (f) very low incidence of paraneoplastic syndromes; and (g) very poor prognosis. Three case reports are presented, followed by an overview of the disease with emphasis on the radiographic features.