title: Parathyroid-hormone-related-protein-producing thymic carcinoma presenting as a giant extrathoracic mass.
abstract: A 53-year-old female with a 9-month history of chest pain presented with a giant anterior chest wall mass. Radiologic examination showed an anterior mediastinal tumor invading the chest wall. Serum calcium and parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) levels were extremely elevated. Biopsy specimens disclosed a squamous cell carcinoma with Hassall's corpuscle-like keratotic pearls, and an immunohistological study showed a positive staining with PTHrP. The tumor and serum PTHrP concentration markedly decreased following cisplatin-based chemotherapy and radiation. This is the first case of PTHrP producing a thymic carcinoma with the unusual presentation of a large extrathoracic mass.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Sapporo Medical University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shibusa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inuzuka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujishima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abe
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006934:Hypercalcemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D011878:Radiotherapy; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary* / Q000628:therapy; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C470121:PTHLH protein, human; D010281:Parathyroid Hormone; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D011506:Proteins