[Sarcomatoid carcinoma of the thymus which caused acute epicarditis].

Abstract

Thymic carcinoma is rare. Particularly sarcomatoid carcinoma of the thymus is a very rare disease it has been reported in only 15 patients to date. The prognosis is very poor and diagnosis and treatment have not yet been established. We report a case of 63-year-old man who was initially diagnosed with acute pericarditis and was finally found to be sarcomatoid carcinoma of the thymus. He underwent surgery and the tumor was completely resected. However, 6 months after surgery, local recurrence was noted. The patient was treated by radiotherapy followed by paclitaxel monotherapy. Partial remission was achieved transiently with paclitaxel, but the tumor again recurred. He died 33 months after surgery. The possibility of diseases like this tumor must be kept in mind for a patient with chest symptoms. Paclitaxel monotherapy is likely to be effective in treating sarcomatoid carcinoma of the thymus.

• Authors: S Takahara, S Shiono, M Fukasawa, M Abiko, H Miyoshi, G Tamura, T Satou
• Journal: Kyobu geka. The Japanese journal of thoracic surgery (Kyobu Geka) Vol. 63 Issue 5 Pg. 375-8 (May 2010) ISSN: 0021-5252 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 20446605 (Publication Type: Case Reports, English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Carcinoma (complications)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pericarditis (etiology)
• Thymus Neoplasms (complications)