title: Mucoepidermoid thymic carcinoma: a challenging mediastinal aspirate.
abstract: Primary thymic carcinoma-mucoepidermoid cell (MEC) type is rare and only one report describing the cytologic features of this neoplasm in the metastatic site is described. We describe the cytological features of poorly differentiated carcinoma possibly MEC in a 54-year-old man who presented with cough, weight loss, and puffiness of face for 3 months. The significance of this infrequently encountered neoplasm lies in its potential confusion of origin of the tumor-thymus or metastases from a primary bronchial MEC. Immunocytochemical profile was suggestive of a thymic carcinoma of the MEC type.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Kuwait. kkapila@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kusum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kapila
authors.forename: Shahed K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Pathan
authors.forename: Thasneem
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.forename: Munish
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joneja
authors.forename: Santhosh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hebbar
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Al-Ayadhy
mesh_terms: D044963:Biopsy, Fine-Needle; D018277:Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013945:Thymoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*