title: Giant ossifying malignant thymoma in a child.
abstract: We present the first reported case of an ossifying pediatric thymoma. Our patient was diagnosed with a massive thymoma replacing the whole of the left thoracic cavity. Percutaneous biopsy was attempted 3 times followed by an open incisional biopsy and adjuvant chemotherapy. Complete resection required a median sternotomy and a "trap door" thoracotomy after the tumor failed to respond to chemotherapy. Histology confirmed World Health Organization type B1 lymphocyte-rich thymoma, Masaoka stage I, with extensive osseous metaplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, The Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA.
authors.forename: Jai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bikhchandani
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Valusek
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Juang
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: E O'Brien
authors.forename: Maxine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hetherington
authors.forename: Shawn D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: St Peter
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic; D013945:Thymoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery*