Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma. Report of a case with fine needle aspiration biopsy findings.
BACKGROUND
Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma is a rare, benign tumor occurring exclusively in the supraclavicular and suprasternal regions. To the best of our knowledge, there are no English-language reports on its cytologic findings.


METHODS
A fine needle aspiration specimen from a mass in the suprasternal region in a 63-year-old male revealed epithelial cell nests, spindle cells, a cluster of mature adipocytes and a small number of lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Although ectopic hamartomatous thymoma is very rare, fine needle aspiration cytology may contribute to the correct diagnosis in conjunction with the characteristic clinical findings.
Hirokawa
M
M
Department of Pathology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan. hirokawa@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp
Tadaoka
Y
Y
Shimizu
M
M
Monobe
Y
Y
Kanahara
T
T
Manabe
T
T
D017667:Adipocytes / Q000473:pathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D002828:Choristoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000473:pathology; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009334:Neck Muscles; D013945:Thymoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography