Definition
Acquired multilocular thymic cysts are multilocular lesions with epithelial lining and with thymic tissue in the cyst walls. They are found in the neck and mediastinum and, as suggested by Suster and Rosai in 1991, most probably develop as a result of acquired inflammatory processes leading to cystic transformation of structures derived from medullary duct epithelium. Another possible cause can be dysregulation of immune system, since they have been described in children and adults in association with human immunodeficiency virus infection.
Clinical Features
Incidence
Acquired multilocular thymic cysts are extremely rare, even rarer than congenital thymic cysts which are rare lesions.
Age
Acquired multilocular thymic cyst can occur at any age.
Sex
There is no predilection for either sex.
Site
Acquired multilocular thymic cysts occur most commonly in the anterosuperior mediastinum and neck.
Treatment
Surgical excision if symptomatic.
Outcome
Acquired multilocular thymic cysts...
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References and Further Reading
Kontny, H. U., Sleasman, J. W., Kingma, D. W., Jaffe, E. S., Avila, N. A., Pizzo, P. A., & Mueller, B. U. (1997). Multilocular thymic cysts in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection: Clinical and pathologic aspects. Journal of Pediatrics, 131, 264–270.
Morikawa, H., Tanaka, T., Hamaji, M., Ueno, Y., & Hara, A. (2010). Papillary adenocarcinoma developed in a thymic cyst. General Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, 58, 295–297.
Shi, X., Nasseri, F., Berger, D. M., & Nachiappan, A. C. (2012). Large multilocular thymic cyst: A rare finding in an HIV positive adult female. Journal of Clinical Imaging Science, 2, 55.
Shimosato, Y., Mukai, K., & Matsuno, Y. (2010). Thymic cyst. In S. G. Silverberg (Ed.), AFIP Atlas of tumor pathology. Tumors of the mediastinum (pp. 263–265). Washington, DC: American Registry of Pathology.
Suster, S., & Rosai, J. (1991). Multilocular thymic cyst: An acquired reactive process. Study of 18 cases. American Journal of Surgical Pathology, 15, 388–398.
Suster, S., Barbuto, D., Carlson, G., & Rosai, J. (1991). Multilocular thymic cysts with pseudoepitheliomatous hyperplasia. Human Pathology, 22, 455–460.
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Brcic, L. (2018). Acquired Multilocular Thymic Cyst. In: Allen, T.C., Suster, S. (eds) Pathology of the Pleura and Mediastinum. Encyclopedia of Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66796-6_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66796-6_2
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