Display options
Cite
Alexiev BA, Drachenberg CB, Burke AP. Thymomas: a cytological and immunohistochemical study, with emphasis on lymphoid and neuroendocrine markers. Diagn Pathol. 2007;2:13doi: 10.1186/1746-1596-2-13.
Alexiev, B. A., Drachenberg, C. B., & Burke, A. P. (2007). Thymomas: a cytological and immunohistochemical study, with emphasis on lymphoid and neuroendocrine markers. Diagnostic pathology, 213. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1596-2-13
Alexiev, Borislav A, et al. "Thymomas: a cytological and immunohistochemical study, with emphasis on lymphoid and neuroendocrine markers." Diagnostic pathology vol. 2 (2007): 13. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-1596-2-13
Alexiev BA, Drachenberg CB, Burke AP. Thymomas: a cytological and immunohistochemical study, with emphasis on lymphoid and neuroendocrine markers. Diagn Pathol. 2007 May 11;2:13. doi: 10.1186/1746-1596-2-13. PMID: 17498299; PMCID: PMC1871568.
Copy Download .nbib Format: NLM
Share it on

Diagn Pathol. 2007 May 11;2:13. doi: 10.1186/1746-1596-2-13.

Thymomas: a cytological and immunohistochemical study, with emphasis on lymphoid and neuroendocrine markers.

Diagnostic pathology

Borislav A Alexiev, Cinthia B Drachenberg, Allen P Burke

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, University of Maryland Medical Center, 22 S Greene Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. [email protected]

PMID: 17498299 PMCID: PMC1871568 DOI: 10.1186/1746-1596-2-13

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The current study correlates cytologic morphology with histologic type and describes immunophenotypes with a focus on epithelial, neuroendocrine, and lymphoid characteristics in an institutional series of surgically excised thymomas.

METHODS: Fine needle aspirates (FNAs) and surgical specimens were retrospectively analyzed, and immunohistochemical stains were performed for EMA, cytokeratin 7, cytokeratin 20, CD57 CD5, bcl-2, calretinin, vimentin, CD3, CD20, CD1a, CD99 and Ki67. Tumors were classified by WHO criteria.

RESULTS: There were eleven male and six female patients with an age range of 41 to 84 years (mean, 61 years) and a male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Four thymomas (4/17, 23.5%) were associated with neuromuscular disease: myasthenia gravis (n = 3) and limbic encephalitis (n = 1). FNA, under CT guidance, was performed in 7 cases. The positive predictive value for thymoma by FNA cytology was 100% and the sensitivity was 71%. Thymomas associated with neuromuscular disorders were WHO types B2 (n = 1) and B3 (n = 3), and showed a strong expression of CD57 in the majority of neoplastic epithelial cells accompanied by large numbers of CD20+ intratumoral B lymphocytes. Two of seventeen (11.7%) thymomas (all sporadic B3 type) contained numerous neoplastic epithelial cells positive for CD5 and bcl-2.

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that thymomas associated with autoimmune disorders contain a significant population of CD20+ intratumoral B lymphocytes. Strong CD57 positivity in thymomas may suggest a concomitant neuromuscular disorder, notably myasthenia gravis. CD5 expression is of limited value in the differential diagnosis of primary thymic epithelial neoplasms since both thymic carcinomas and thymomas may express CD5.

References

  1. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2003 Oct;126(4):1134-40 - PubMed
  2. Semin Diagn Pathol. 2005 Aug;22(3):213-22 - PubMed
  3. Cancer. 2000 Feb 25;90(1):24-32 - PubMed
  4. Am J Surg Pathol. 1998 Sep;22(9):1059-66 - PubMed
  5. Cancer. 2002 Jul 15;95(2):420-9 - PubMed
  6. Mod Pathol. 2002 Dec;15(12):1326-32 - PubMed
  7. Hum Pathol. 1998 Apr;29(4):330-8 - PubMed
  8. Hum Pathol. 1996 Oct;27(10):1089-92 - PubMed
  9. Int J Cancer. 2003 Jul 1;105(4):546-51 - PubMed
  10. Am J Surg Pathol. 1999 Aug;23(8):955-62 - PubMed
  11. Chir Ital. 2002 May-Jun;54(3):351-4 - PubMed
  12. Am J Surg Pathol. 2001 Jan;25(1):111-20 - PubMed
  13. Acta Cytol. 1998 Jul-Aug;42(4):855-64 - PubMed
  14. Chir Ital. 2003 May-Jun;55(3):379-84 - PubMed
  15. J Pathol. 2005 Sep;207(1):72-82 - PubMed
  16. Virchows Arch B Cell Pathol Incl Mol Pathol. 1993;63(4):241-7 - PubMed
  17. Pathol Res Pract. 2002;198(7):461-7 - PubMed
  18. Am J Surg Pathol. 1992 Oct;16(10):988-97 - PubMed
  19. Acta Cytol. 1998 Jul-Aug;42(4):845-54 - PubMed
  20. Cancer. 1981 Dec 1;48(11):2485-92 - PubMed
  21. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Dec;11(6):367-73 - PubMed
  22. Pathol Int. 1994 May;44(5):359-67 - PubMed
  23. Lung Cancer. 2005 Oct;50(1):59-66 - PubMed
  24. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2004 Aug;26(2):412-8 - PubMed
  25. Virchows Arch. 2006 Aug;449(2):234-7 - PubMed
  26. Ann Thorac Surg. 2004 Apr;77(4):1183-8 - PubMed
  27. Histopathology. 2001 Jun;38(6):519-27 - PubMed

Publication Types