title: Biopsy trauma dislodges thymocytes from a thymoma to fill regional lymph node sinusoids.
abstract: We present a case of an incisional thymoma biopsy causing dissemination of thymocytes to a regional lymph node. Lymphatic seeding from circulating tumor cells is a distinct mechanism of tumor spread. We review the literature relevant to operative trauma as a cause of tumor cell migration to nearby lymph nodes. Summarized are case reports wherein metastasis of benign tumors has been related to operative trauma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Los Angeles County-Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, United States. Electronic address: choi.alexander7@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alexander H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Los Angeles County-Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Samuel W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: French
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Los Angeles County-Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, United States.
authors.forename: Timothy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Van Natta
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000473:pathology; D013945:Thymoma / Q000473:pathology*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Surgical biopsy induced tumor cell spread