Thymic carcinoma presenting as cranial metastasis with intradural and extracranial extension: case report.
OBJECTIVE
Thymic carcinoma is an uncommon malignant tumor that is different from thymoma. Cranial and brain metastases from this tumor are extremely rare. We report a thymic carcinoma with cranial metastasis and discuss the behavior of this tumor.


METHODS
A 50-year-old man presented with headache and a palpable scalp tumor. Computed tomographic scans and magnetic resonance images revealed an osteolytic tumor with intradural and extracranial extension in the right occipital bone.


METHODS
After gross total resection and histological diagnosis, further investigation revealed a primary thymic tumor in the anterior upper mediastinum and liver metastases. The patient received multiple-cycle chemotherapy (cisplatin and gemcitabine) for primary and metastatic lesions.


CONCLUSIONS
Thymic carcinoma has a poor prognosis because of a high degree of malignancy, early metastasis, and delayed diagnosis. Thus, treatment of a patient with this tumor calls for prompt diagnosis, surgical treatment, and optimal adjuvant therapy.
Tamura
Yoji
Y
Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka Medical College, Takatsuki City, Osaka, Japan. neu034@poh.osaka-med.ac.jp
Kuroiwa
Toshihiko
T
Doi
Atsushi
A
Min
Kyong-Yob
KY
D002277:Carcinoma / Q000556:secondary*; D004388:Dura Mater / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009777:Occipital Bone / Q000473:pathology*; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*