Thymic Metastasis in Breast Cancer: A Case Report.

Author: Sung Bin PARK ¹ ; Hak Hee KIM ; Hee Jung SHIN ; Moon Hee PAIK ; Dae Bong KIM ; Gyungyub GONG
Author Information

1. Department of Radiology and the Research Institute of Radiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. hhkim@amc.seoul.kr
Publication Type:Case Report
Keywords: Breast neoplasm, metastases; Thymus, CT; Thymus, PET
MeSH: Adult; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic/therapeutic use; Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy/*pathology; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/drug therapy/*pathology/secondary; Female; Humans; Paclitaxel/therapeutic use; Thymus Neoplasms/drug therapy/*secondary
From:Korean Journal of Radiology 2007;8(4):360-363
CountryRepublic of Korea
Language:English
Abstract: A malignant tumor is generally believed to be very unlikely to metastasize to the thymus. Only three cases of thymic metastases have been reported so far in the medical literature. We report here a rare case of metastatic breast cancer to the thymus, which was detected by CT and PET scanning, and the metastasis was also confirmed by video-assisted thoracic surgery biopsy. Recognition of an unusual breast cancer metastasis, such as to the thymus, as well as the usual patterns of breast cancer metastasis will facilitate an accurate, prompt diagnosis and its appropriate treatment.