Thymomas diagnosed during pregnancy: two cases in young women without paraneoplastic or autoimmune disease

• Published in: Annals of diagnostic pathology 2012-10, Vol.16 (5), p.392-396
• Main Authors: Hechtman, Jaclyn F., MD, Chepovetsky, Julie A., MD, Strauchen, James A., MD, Burstein, David E., MD, Beasley, Mary B., MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Autoimmune Diseases - pathology; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Female; Humans; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Paraneoplastic Syndromes - pathology; Pathology; Podoplanin; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - metabolism; Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic - surgery; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Receptors, Progesterone - metabolism; Thymoma; Thymoma - diagnosis; Thymoma - metabolism; Thymoma - surgery; Thymus Neoplasms - diagnosis; Thymus Neoplasms - metabolism; Thymus Neoplasms - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Treatment Refusal
• ISSN: 1092-9134; 1532-8198
• DOI: 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2011.03.003

Abstract We report 2 cases of thymomas diagnosed during pregnancy. Neither of these 2 patients had paraneoplastic autoimmune conditions or previous neoplasia. The first patient had a 7.3-cm lymphocyte-predominant thymoma with capsular invasion. The second patient was diagnosed through fine needle aspiration biopsy after computed tomography showed multiple mediastinal masses. Although cases of thymoma during pregnancy have been reported, the exact cause has yet to be elucidated. We review the clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and immunohistochemical findings—including those of podoplanin, estrogen receptor, and progesterone receptor—of 2 previously unreported cases, as well as discuss the relationship of malignancy and pregnancy and review the available literature regarding pregnancy and thymoma.