• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2003

Ectopic cervical thymic tumor, first described in 1941 by Boman, is a rare tumor of the neck displaying the same histologic features as mediastinal thymoma. It was classified into benign thymoma, invasive (or malignant) thymoma, thymic carcinoma histopathologically and clinically. The ectopic cervical thymic tumor is misdianosed as the thyroidal mass on radiologic examination and FNA cytology due to its rarity and unusual location. Recently, we have experienced two cases of ectopic cervical thymic tumor misdiagnosed as thyroid mass ; a case of thymic carcinoma;the other of invasive thymoma. So, we report these cases with review of the literature.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.48-52
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• 2008

Ectopic Hamartomatous thymoma(EHT) is a rare benign tumor that occurs mainly in the supraclavicular or suprasternal area. Since this entity was first reported by Smith et al. in 1982, less than 50 cases have been reported in the literature. Recognition of EHT is important and needs to be differentiated from high-grade sarcomas such as synovial sarcoma or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor because EHT follows a benign clinical course. We experienced a case of ectopic hamartomatous thymoma in the suprasternal area in a 53-year-old man. Here, we present the case with a review of the related literatures.

• Korean Journal of Head & Neck Oncology
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.37-40
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• 2010

Ectopic hamartomatous thymoma is a rare benign tumor of the lower neck occurring in the male adult predominantly. The origin of this tumor has been debated, but it is now believed to arise from remnants of the cervical sinus of His from early development. They are composed of epithelial, adipocytic, and spindle cells in variable amounts. Recognition of ectopic harmatomatous thymoma is important and needs to be differentiated from high-grade sarcomas such as synovial sarcoma or glandular malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. We here report on a case of ectopic hamartomatous thymoma arising in the left lateral neck of 33-year-old male patient.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.312-315
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• 2017

In the embryo, the thymus originates from the third and fourth pharyngeal pouches and migrates from the superior neck to the mediastinum. Ectopic cervical thymoma (ECT) is an extremely rare tumor that originates from ectopic tissue, and is caused by the aberrant migration of the embryonic thymus. Our patient was a 30-year-old woman who had a nodular lesion in the neck for several years. Ultrasonography and computed tomography were performed. She underwent surgery, and a histological examination resulted in a diagnosis of type AB thymoma. Herein, we report a case of ECT that was resected through a transcervical approach.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.12
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• pp.1381-1384
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• 1996

Thymoma Is an anterior mediastinal tumor, arising from the thymus, but occasionally has ectopic focus such as neck, trachea, thyroid, pulmonary hilum, lung parenchyme and pleura. Forty-two year old male patient was admitted due to progressive development of shortness of breath in 4 months. He had a history of exposure to asbestos for About 10 years duration In recent 15 years. Radiologically, multiple pleural masses were seen rom apex to diaphrAgm, with no evidence of anterior mediastinal mass,with fluid in right pleural cavity. Closed thoracotomy drainage with open biopsy were performed. Effusion cell block showed many T cell marker positive Lymphocytes & some epithelial cells compatible with thymoma, and the tissue also showed cortical type thymoma. Pleuropneumonectomy and thymectomy followed by 60 Gy radiation therapy were done and the patient is well 8 months postoperatively. The pleura is markedly thickened by the invasion of thymoma and the interstitial space of the lung tissue,but the normal appearance of thymus was present in remote area (Masaoka classification IVa). We report a case of ectopic invasive thymoma arising from the right pleura with intact thymus.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.331-335
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• 2007

A thymoma commonly occurs in the superior mediastinum or the upper part of the anterior mediastinum but can be located in other places in rare cases. Cystic degeneration in a thymoma is a relatively common but focal event. In rare cases, the process proceeds to the extent that most if not all of the lesion becomes cystic. We report a case of a patient with a paracardial cystic thymoma in the lower aspect of the anterior mediastinum. A 49-year-old woman was referred to our hospital because of a mass discovered incidentally on a chest X-ray. She showed no symptoms or signs. Contrast-enhanced chest CT scan revealed a $5{\times}5cm$ sized, well-marginated, right paracardial cystic mass with a curvilinear and oval enhancing solid portion. A Surgical resection was performed. The mass was discontinuous with normal thymic tissue. Microscopy revealed a type B1 thymoma with prominent foci of medullary differentiation according to the WHO classification. There was no capsular or local invasion. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged in good health.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.139-154
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• 2021

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has become a crucial tool for evaluating mediastinal masses considering that several lesions that appear indeterminate on computed tomography and radiography can be differentiated on MRI. Using a three-compartment model to localize the mass and employing a basic knowledge of MRI, radiologists can easily diagnose mediastinal masses. Here, we review the use of MRI in evaluating mediastinal masses and present the images of various mediastinal masses categorized using the International Thymic Malignancy Interest Group's three-compartment classification system. These masses include thymic hyperplasia, thymic cyst, pericardial cyst, thymoma, mediastinal hemangioma, lymphoma, mature teratoma, bronchogenic cyst, esophageal duplication cyst, mediastinal thyroid carcinoma originating from ectopic thyroid tissue, mediastinal liposarcoma, mediastinal pancreatic pseudocyst, neurogenic tumor, meningocele, and plasmacytoma.