Korean J Dermatol.  2006 Nov;44(11):1349-1351.

A Case of Thymic Carcinoma with Direct Invasion into the Skin

• Park JH
• Moon SH
• Ro YS

Abstract

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. The symptoms are anterior chest pain, dyspnea, coughing, and superior vena cava syndrome usually caused by compression of mediastinal organs. Histologic grade is the most important prognostic factor. Although it is common to observe intrathoracic invasion or metastasis, extrathoracic invasion is extremely rare, and only a few cases have been reported to date. Herein, we report a case of a patient with a thymic carcinoma which showed extrathoracic invasion, presenting as a solitary, pinkish nodule on the chest wall.

Keyword

Direct invasion; Skin; Thymic carcinoma

MeSH Terms

Chest Pain
Cough
Dyspnea
Epithelium
Humans
Incidence
Neoplasm Metastasis
Skin*
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome
Thoracic Wall
Thymoma*