Rapid progression of thymoma in a 3-year-old-girl

• Main Authors: Hui-Ling Peng, Wan-Ling Ho, Chia-Yu Chang, Chun-Hung Ko
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2019-01-01
• Series: Formosan Journal of Surgery
• Subjects: invasive thymoma; pediatric thymoma; thymoma
• Online Access: http://www.e-fjs.org/article.asp?issn=1682-606X;year=2019;volume=52;issue=5;spage=193;epage=196;aulast=Peng

Thymoma is an uncommon neoplasm that derived from thymic epithelial cells. Clinically, it is slow-growing and most patients are over 40 years old. Thymoma corresponds to 30% of anterior mediastinal tumors in adults but <1% in pediatric patients. However, thymoma in pediatric group is considered to be highly aggressive. We report a case of invasive thymoma in a 3-year-old girl, presented as respiratory distress with massive pleural effusion. She developed a superior vena cava syndrome soon after admission. A subsequent computed tomography demonstrated a large mediastinal mass with compression of great vessels. Due to the rare occurrence of thymoma at such a young age, an accurate diagnosis was made only after an open biopsy had been performed. The patient underwent a near-complete resection of the mass as well as adjuvant chemotherapy. She has remained well at the 6-year follow-up.