Congenital thymoma

Momal Tara Chand; Jacob Edens; Tayson Taixin Lin; David Goshorn; Truc Pham

doi:10.4322/acr.2021.327

Clinical Case Report and Review

Congenital thymoma

Momal Tara Chand; Jacob Edens; Tayson Taixin Lin; David Goshorn; Truc Pham

http://dx.doi.org/10.4322/acr.2021.327 Autops Case Rep, vol.11, e2021327, 2021

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Abstract

Thymomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors arising from the epithelium of the thymus. They are categorized by the proportion of neoplastic epithelia to lymphocytes and by the degree of cytologic atypia. Thymomas constitute 0.2-1.5% of all malignancies and nearly all occur in patients over 20 years. We reviewed the available literature and found less than 50 cases of thymoma reported in children (<18 years of age), the youngest being 4 years old, and no cases in newborns. They represent less than 1% of all mediastinal tumors in children. Due to the limited number of cases in the pediatric population, the diagnosis and treatment in this population is extremely challenging. Thymomas in all age groups may be associated with paraneoplastic syndromes, being myasthenia gravis the most common, which is associated with a worse prognosis in the pediatric population. We present the first case of a newborn infant with congenital thymoma. This case demonstrates a rare tumor in an unusual age group and emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary teamwork in the decision-making and management of this condition.

Keywords

Congenital Abnormalities, Hospitals, Pediatric, Thymoma, Thymus Hyperplasia, Thymus Neoplasms

References

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Submitted date:
08/24/2020

Accepted date:
08/02/2021

Publication date:
09/22/2021

Congenital thymoma

Momal Tara Chand; Jacob Edens; Tayson Taixin Lin; David Goshorn; Truc Pham

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