A giant neuroendocrine tumor of the thymus gland causing superior vena cava syndrome

We describe the case of a 37-year-old man with a rare giant thymic neuroendocrine tumor. The patient presented with a swelling of the neck associated with superior vena cava syndrome and underwent stent implantation in the right innominate vein (brachiocephalic vein). Computed tomography imaging rev...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:General thoracic and cardiovascular surgery 2012-12, Vol.60 (12), p.863-867
Main Authors: Komoda, Satsuki, Komoda, Takeshi, Knosalla, Christoph, Pavel, Marianne E., Morawietz, Lars, von Weikersthal, Ludwig Fischer, Lehmkuhl, Hans B., Hetzer, Roland
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Carcinoid Tumor - complications
Carcinoid Tumor - pathology
Cardiac Surgery
Cardiology
Carotid arteries
Case Report
Coronary vessels
Cytokeratin
Humans
Male
Medical imaging
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Neuroendocrine tumors
Patients
Peptides
Pericardium
Prostheses
Pulmonary arteries
Radiation therapy
Rare Diseases - complications
Rare Diseases - pathology
Stents
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome - etiology
Superior Vena Cava Syndrome - surgery
Surgical Oncology
Thoracic Surgery
Thymus gland
Thymus Neoplasms - complications
Thymus Neoplasms - pathology
Tumor Burden
Veins & arteries
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Summary:We describe the case of a 37-year-old man with a rare giant thymic neuroendocrine tumor. The patient presented with a swelling of the neck associated with superior vena cava syndrome and underwent stent implantation in the right innominate vein (brachiocephalic vein). Computed tomography imaging revealed a large tumor of the mediastinum, measuring 15 × 10 × 12 cm. CT-guided core-needle biopsy for histology revealed a thymic carcinoid. Surgical resection of the tumor and repair with interposition of a 14-mm Gore-Tex prosthesis between the left innominate vein and the right atrial appendage were performed. Histopathological analysis classified the tumor as an atypical thymic carcinoid. Postoperative course was uneventful. Since complete resection could not be achieved, the patient received two cycles of peptide-receptor radionuclide therapy followed by conventional radiotherapy, and remains symptom-free at 12 months after surgery.
ISSN:1863-6705
1863-6713
DOI:10.1007/s11748-012-0104-5