갑상선암종으로 오인된 흉선의 편평세포암종 1례

Abstract

Thymic carcinoma is a rare tumor that develops in the anterosuperior mediastinum. The prognosis of thymic carcinoma is poor. It is often misdiagnosed as a thyroid tumor in the fine needle aspiration cytology because of its rarity and non-organotypic cytoarchitectural structure. We have experienced a case of thymic carcinoma that was misdiagnosed as a thyroid carcinoma in showed a huge mas, and we suposed a malignant thyroid tumor from lower pole of the thyroid, which extended toward the superior mediastinum. The fine needle aspiration cytologic diagnosis of the mas showed that it was anaplastic carcinoma of the thyroid. Total thyroidectomy including mas and selective neck disection was performed. Postoperative pathologic diagnosis was squamous cell carcinoma of the thymus. So we report this case with a review of literature. Head Neck Surg 2007 ;50 :1179-83)