title: Giant cystic thymoma with haemorrhage and necrosis: an unusual case.
abstract: Extreme degree of cystic, haemorrhagic and necrotic changes in a thymoma is rare. A 22-year-old male presented with cough, grade 2 dyspnoea, and occasional chest pain for the past six months. Radiological investigations revealed a large cystic lesion in the anterior mediastinum. A benign cystic tumour was suspected. Surgical resection of the tumour was done. Grossly, the almost entirely cystic and haemorrhagic dumb-bell shaped encapsulated tumour showed a subcapsular residual nodule. Histopathological examination was suggestive diagnosis of benign thymoma (World Health Organization [WHO] Type A, medullary type) associated with the rare features of cells with dendritic processes containing melanin pigment seen singly scattered throughout the tumour.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Karnataka, India. pairadharam@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Radha R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Pai
authors.forename: Kausalya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sahu
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.forename: Garima
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: H V Krishna
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Prasad
mesh_terms: D003560:Cysts / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007238:Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D013945:Thymoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult