Thymic carcinoma differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Marjan Khan M.B.B.S.[2]

Overview

The most common differential diagnosis of thymic carcinoma is thymoma, which is the most common pathology of the thymus. Thymic carcinoma must be differentiated from other mediastinal masses such as germ cell tumors, lymphoma, thyroid tumors, and metastatic carcinoma to mediastinal lymph nodes.

Differential Diagnosis

Comparison between thymoma and thymic carcinoma:

• Besides the thymoma, it is also important to differentiate thymic carcinoma from:

• Primary mediastinal lymphoma
• Mediastinal germ cell tumor
• Metastasis of the mediastinum by a bronchogenic carcinoma
• Neuroendocrine tumors
• Germ cell tumors
• Lymphomas
• Stromal tumors
• Tumor-like lesions (such as true thymic hyperplasia)
• Thymic cysts
• Metastatic tumors
• Lung cancer