Histologic classification of thymoma: the World Health Organization and beyond.
Thymoma classification has remained for many years a troubled and contentious field. In recent years, the World Health Organization (WHO) presented a proposal for the histopathologic classification of thymic epithelial neoplasms that has been adopted as the standard by many pathologists throughout the world. Yet, controversy still exists regarding its validity, accuracy, usefulness, and reproducibility in routine clinical practice. This article reviews the basic criteria of the current WHO classification of thymoma, along with its weaknesses and limitations, and presents alternate proposals for the histopathologic approach to the classification of thymic epithelial neoplasms.
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. ssuster@mcw.edu
Saul
S
Suster
Cesar A
CA
Moran
D006801:Humans; D013945:Thymoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D014944:World Health Organization