title: Clinicopathological features of type AB thymoma with liver metastases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We studied the clinicopathological features of type AB thymoma with liver metastases and explore the histological types, diagnosis and differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis for this disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Liver metastasis specimens were derived from one case of type AB thymoma 5 years after operation and were examined histologically using light microscopy and immunohistochemistry. A comprehensive analysis was performed on the patient's clinical manifestations, histopathology, immunohistochemistry features, differential diagnosis, treatment and prognosis in combination with a review of the relevant literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Metastases were detected 5 years after initial operation on a 49-year-old, female patient with type AB thymoma. The pathological diagnosis for the liver metastases was type AB thymoma. Immunohistochemistry staining showed CKpan (+), CD3 (+), CD2 (+), TdT (+), CD5 (+), P53 (+), Hep-1 (-), and Ki67-positive cells (25%). The expression level of galectin-3 was higher than in the mediastinal thymoma tissue identified 5 years prior.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver metastases of type AB thymoma are extremely rare. This case indicated that type AB thymoma with low malignant potential might recur and develop distant metastases. Overexpression of p53, galectin-3 and Ki67 in type AB thymoma might coordinately manipulate the process of development, progression and malignant transformation of type AB thymomas.
authors: Department of Pathology, 456 Hospital of PLA Jinan 250031, China.
authors: Zhenzheng
authors: Z
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology, 456 Hospital of PLA Jinan 250031, China.
authors: Hui
authors: H
authors: Li
authors: Department of Medical, 456 Hospital of PLA Jinan 250031, China.
authors: Hongyan
authors: H
authors: Cao
authors: Department of Pathology, The General Hospital of Jinan Military Command Jinan 250031, China.
authors: Jinfeng
authors: J
authors: Zheng
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013945:Thymoma / Q000556:secondary*; D013953:Thymus Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor
keywords: Type AB thymoma; immunohistochemistry; liver; metastases