Thymus Flashcards
What syndrome to think about with congenital anomalies of the thymus?
DiGeorge Syndrome leading to aplasia or hypoplasia.
What to remember about thymic cysts?
Isolated cysts are not significant, bu thymic tumors can sometimes cause cysts to form so if there is a symptomatic patient with cysts, need to do a work up for tumors.
How do we characterize thymic hyperplasia and what condition do we most commonly see it in?
Thymic follicular hyperplasia because it is proliferation of b lymphocytes.
M gravis
In what other types of conditions do we see thymic changes?
Autoimmune like graves, lupus, RA
The term thymoma is restricted to tumors of what origin?
Thymic epithelial cells
What kind of cells are usually induced in a thymoma as well?
T cell
Where do thymoma usually present? What is a condition that commonly thymoma present with? What are the symptoms commonly from?
Anterior superior mediastinum
M gravis
Impingement on mediastinal structures
What are the three types of thymoma?
Cytologically benign and noninvasive
Cytologically benign but invasive/metastatic
Cytologically malignant, so carcinomas
What age of patient do we typically see thymomas in?
40s
3 physically features of thymomas?
Firm, lobulated, and gray white masses
What percent of thymomas are benign and what are 2 features to remember?
50%
Encapsulated
Medullary type epi cells or mixed med/cortical
What is type 1 malignant thymoma?
Invasive thymoma, cytologically benign, but biologically aggressive.
Most commonly cortical type
What are the two most common types of Type 2 thymic carcinomas?
Most are squamous cell carcinomas
2nd most common of type 2 is lymphoepithelioma like carcinoma associated with EBV.
