Metastatic Pattern of Spread of Thymoma
Introduction:
Thymoma is an uncommon cancer arising from thymic tissue in older adults (40s-50s). It is associated with paraneoplastic syndromes, although the majority of patients are asymptomatic: pure red cell aplasia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and myasthenia gravis.
Prevalence: Rare Metastasis Frequency: Rare
References:
J Clin Oncol. 1999 Jul;17(7):2280-9. PMID: 10561285
Radiographics. 2002 Oct;22 Spec No:S95-S102. PMID: 12376603
Primary Tumor:
| Characteristics | Comments | |
| Mediastinum | Peripherally Calcified | anterior mediastinum. often contains calcifications |
Known Metastatic Locations:
| Site | Frequency | Characteristics | Comments |
| Pleura | Common | so-called 'drop' metastases (i.e. local seeding of the pleura) |
|
| Kidney | Rare | ||
| Bone | Rare | ||
| Liver | Rare | ||
| Brain | Rare |