Thymic carcinoma in children

Thymic epithelial neoplasms consist of thymomas, thymic carcinoids, and thymic carcinomas. Carcinomas are malignant tumors of the thymus characterized by obvious cytological anaplasia. They constitute only 4%–14% of thymic epithelial neoplams. Thymic carcinoma rarely occurs in children. Research in the English literature carried out for the present study revealed only 14 cases younger than 18 years-of-age. Here we have reported a 16-year old girl who presented with respiratory distress due to huge anterior mediastinal mass. Histological and immunohistochemical studies confirmed lymphoepithelioma-like thymic carcinoma. She received systemic chemotherapy and radiotherapy. However, she died within 15 months due to progressive disease. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.