Atypical thymic carcinoid with hypercalcemia

Journal: Kyobu Geka. The Japanese Journal Of Thoracic Surgery
Published:
Abstract

We experienced a rare case of a 76-year-old man with an anterior mediastinal tumor diagnosed postoperatively as atypical thymic carcinoid with hypercalcemia. He was found to have a growing abnormal mediastinal shadow, and admitted. Chest computed tomography scan on admission revealed an anterior mediastinal mass of 4.0 cm in diameter. Extended total thymectomy was performed through a median sternotomy. The histopathological diagnosis was an atypical carcinoid of the thymus. He received adjuvant mediastinal irradiation. Endocrinological tests for preoperative hypercalcemia revealed high levels of serum intact-parathyroid hormone( PTH), prolactin and gastrin. A parathyroid scintigraphy revealed a parathyroid tumor. He has been well without any sign of recurrence for 1 year after surgery and irradiation treatment. When diagnosing anterior mediastinal tumor with hypercalcemia, atypical carcinoid of thymus with hyperparathyroidism should be considered.

Authors
Jun Yamamoto, Masaoki Shimanouchi, Yoshiaki Ueda, Toshinori Hashizume, Tetsushi Suito