title: Thymic carcinoma: case reports and review.
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. 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Diagnostic Radiology, Medical College of Virginia, Richmond 23298-0615, USA.
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Quagliano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D013945:Thymoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed