title: Invasive atypical thymic carcinoid: three case reports and literature review.
abstract: Atypical thymic carcinoid is an extremely rare thymic neuroendocrine tumor derived from the neuroendocrine system. The aims of this paper were to investigate the clinical features of atypical thymic carcinoid and collate information and experience to improve the diagnosis and treatment of this disease. We describe three cases of atypical carcinoid of the thymus; clinical features, pathological data, treatment modalities, and short-term patient outcomes were summarized and analyzed. The initial clinical symptoms and signs of all three patients were nonspecific and an anterior mediastinal mass was found in each patient on chest computed tomography scan. All three patients underwent surgical resection (total thymectomy and complete excision of the tumor), followed by postoperative radiotherapy, with or without chemotherapy. The diagnoses of three patients were confirmed by pathological and immunohistochemical evaluation. We also present a review of the literature to collate as much information as possible and provide a reference for proper diagnosis and treatment of atypical thyroid carcinoid.
authors: School of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Jinan-Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences; Department of Radiotherapy, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan.
authors: Shan
authors: S
authors: Zhu
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan.
authors: Zhong-Tang
authors: ZT
authors: Wang
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan; Department of Clinical Oncology, Taian Central Hospital, Taian.
authors: Wen-Zhi
authors: WZ
authors: Liu
authors: Jinan Hospital, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.
authors: Shi-Xiang
authors: SX
authors: Zong
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Shandong Cancer Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan.
authors: Bao-Sheng
authors: BS
authors: Li
keywords: atypical carcinoid; atypical thymic carcinoid; carcinoid; neuroendocrine tumor; thymic tumors