title: Long-survival case of thymic carcinoma with superior vena cava tumor thrombus.
abstract: Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the thymus is rare and responds poorly to treatment. Invasion of great vessels and metastasis are significant predictors for poor prognosis. Thymic tumors commonly cause superior vena cava (SVC) obstruction by extrinsic compression or invasion, but intraluminal permeation is the most uncommon cause. We report a rare, long-surviving case of sarcomatoid carcinoma with SVC syndrome developed by tumor thrombus. She underwent SVC replacement and extended thymectomy. The resection indicated intracaval extension without direct invasion of thymic tumor, histologically diagnosed as sarcomatoid carcinoma. After adjuvant chemotherapy, she continues to show no apparent recurrence for five years.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Takasaki General Medical Center, Takasaki, Japan; Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan. baroslinde@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Yae
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Noriaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takama
authors.forename: Kiyomitsu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yasuhara
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koyano
authors.forename: Tamiyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Obayashi
authors.forename: Toyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Norio
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanesawa
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kurabayashi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating; D017741:Survivors; D013945:Thymoma / Q000473:pathology*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D013997:Time Factors; D014683:Vena Cava, Superior