title: Giant thymoma in the anterior-inferior mediastinum.
abstract: Thymomas are usually found in the superior mediastinum and sternotomy is the standard approach for resection. We report a case of a male patient with a giant left-sided thymoma, nearly fulfilling the whole hemithorax. Due to the sheer size of the tumor and its location in the anterior-inferior mediastinum, we performed a lateral approach for thymectomy. On resection the specimen measured 18 x 16 x 12 cm. Histology revealed a mixed stage I thymoma. The patient is doing well 36 months after resection and has no signs of recurrence. In literature, a significant increase in the risk of recurrence for thymomas >8 cm is reported.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck, Luebeck, Germany. stefan.limmer@uk-sh.de
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Limmer
authors.forename: Hartmut
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Merz
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kujath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D013934:Thymectomy; D013945:Thymoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome