Skip to main content

Thymoma

A Clinicopathologic Study of 60 Cases

  • Chapter
Book cover Epithelial Tumors of the Thymus

Abstract

The classification of thymomas has often represented a troublesome topic for the pathologist. In the attempt to correlate the various histologic subtypes with the clinical behaviour and the prognosis of the tumors, Marino and Müller-Hermelink5 and Kirchner et al.2 proposed a new histogenetic classification of thymomas based on the similarities between neoplastic epithelial cells and normal thymic components. In the present study, 60 thymomas were reclassified according to the histogenetic classification and their clinicopathological data were evaluated in order to assess if any histological features could correlate with the stage of the tumor, therefore being worth reporting in the histopathologic diagnosis. Besides, we performed an immunocytochemical study, to assess whether the positivity to the Ki-67 antigen, as evaluated by the monoclonal antibody MIB-1, could add any remarkable data about the proliferation rate of the neoplastic cells.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Hsu SM, Raine L, Fanger H. Use of avidin-biotin peroxidase complex (ABC) in immunoperoxidase technique: a comparison between ABC and unlabelled antibody (PAP) procedures. J Histochem Cytochem 1981; 29:577–580.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Kirchner T, Schalke B, Buchwald J, Ritter M, Marx A, Müller-Hermelink HK. Well-differentiated thymic carcinoma. An organotypical low-grade carcinoma with relationship to cortical thymoma. Am J Surg Pathol 1992; 16:1153–1169.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kuo T, Lo S. DNA flow cytometry study of thymic epithelial tumors with evaluation of its usefulness in the pathologic classification. Hum Pathol 1993; 24:746–749.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Lewis JE, Wick MR, Scheithauer BW, Bernatz PE, Taylor WF. Thymoma. A clinicopathologic review. Cancer 1987; 60:2727–2743.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Marino M, Müller-Hermelink HK. Thymoma and thymic carcinoma. Relation of thymoma epithelial cells to the cortical and medullary differentiation of thymus. Virchows Arch [A] 1985; 407:119–149.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Masaoka A, Monden Y, Nakahara K, Tanioka T. Follow-up study of thymomas with special reference to their clinical stage. Cancer 1981; 48:2485–2492.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Pescarmona E, Rendina EA, Venuta F, Ricci C, Baroni CD. Recurrent thymoma: evidence for histological progression. Histopathology 1995; 27:445–449.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Pich A, Chiarle R, Chiusa L, Ponti R, Geuna M, Casadio C, Maggi G, Palestro G. Long-term survival of thymoma patients by histologic pattern and proliferative activity. Am J Surg Pathol 1995; 19:918–926.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Rosai J. Mediastinum. In: Rosai J. Ackerman’s surgical pathology, 8th edition, volume 1. Mosby eds. St. Louis, Missouri, 1996, p. 450.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Tateyama H, Mizuno T, Tada T, Eimoto T, Hashimoto T, Masaoka A. Thymic epithelial tumours: evaluation of malignant grade by quantification of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and nucleolar organizer regions. Virchows Arch [A] 1993; 422:265–269.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yang W, Efird JT, Quintanilla-Matinez L, Choi N, Harris N. Cell kinetic study of thymic epithelial tumors using PCNA(PC 10) and Ki-67 (MIB-1) antibodies. Hum Pathol 1996; 27:70–76.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1997 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Cancellieri, A., Cavazza, A., Gardini, G., Boaron, M., Santelmo, N., Baruzzi, G. (1997). Thymoma. In: Marx, A., Müller-Hermelink, H.K. (eds) Epithelial Tumors of the Thymus. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0033-3_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0033-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4899-0035-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-0033-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics