Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus: Clinical review of 22 cases

Song,Zhengbo; Zhang,Yiping

doi:10.3892/ol.2014.2490

Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus: Clinical review of 22 cases

Authors:
- Zhengbo Song
- Yiping Zhang
View Affiliations

Affiliations: Department of Chemotherapy, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China, Key Laboratory Diagnosis and Treatment Technology on Thoracic Oncology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310022, P.R. China
Published online on: September 1, 2014 https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2490
Pages: 2125-2129

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Metrics: Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )

Cited By (CrossRef): 0 citations Loading Articles...

Abstract

Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus are rare mediastinum tumors, which present a distinct type of tumor, which exhibit morpholgical and biological neuroendorcine features including the production of numerous biogenic amines. The aim of the present study was to evaluate factors influencing long‑term survival in patients with primary neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus. A total of 22 patients exhibiting primary thymic neuroendocrine tumors, who were treated at the Zhejiang Cancer Hospital (Hangzhou, China), between 1995 and 2012 were reviewed. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan‑Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. The overall five‑year survival rate was 45.5% and the median survival time was 59 months in all of the patients. Histological grade (P<0.001), Masaoka‑Koga stage (P=0.003) and surgical resection status (P=0.004) were identified to be associated with patient survival time. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified that the histological grade was an independent prognostic factor, which was applicable to all patients (P=0.009). Therefore, the histological grade and Masaoka‑Koga stage, as well as surgical resection status present three prognostic factors in patients exhibiting primary thymic neuroendocrine tumors.

View Figures

View References

1	Gaur P, Leary C and Yao JC: Thymic neuroendocrine tumors: a SEER database analysis of 160 patients. Ann Surg. 251:1117–1121. 2010.
2	Travis WD, Brambilla E, Müller-Hermelink HK, et al: WHO Classification of Tumours Pathology & Genetics of Tumours of the Lung, Pleura, Thymus and Heart. IARC Press; Lyon: pp. 145–147. 2004
3	de Montpreville VT, Macchiarini P and Dulmet E: Thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma (carcinoid): a clinicopathologic study of fourteen cases. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 111:134–141. 1996.
4	Cardillo G, Treggiari S, Paul MA, et al: Primary neuroendocrine tumours of the thymus: a clinicopathologic and prognostic study in 19 patients. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 37:814–818. 2010.
5	Fukai I, Masaoka A, Fujii Y, et al: Thymic neuroendocrine tumor (thymic carcinoid): a clinicopathologic study in 15 patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 67:208–211. 1999.
6	Moran CA and Suster S: Thymic neuroendocrine carcinomas with combined features ranging from well-differentiated (carcinoid) to small cell carcinoma. A clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 11 cases. Am J Clin Pathol. 113:345–350. 2000.
7	Moran CA and Suster S: Neuroendocrine carcinomas (carcinoid tumor) of the thymus: a clinicopathologic analysis of 80 cases. Am J Clin Pathol. 114:100–110. 2000.
8	Koga K, Matsuno Y, Noguchi M, et al: A review of 79 thymomas: modification of staging system and reappraisal of conventional division into invasive and non-invasive thymoma. Pathol Int. 44:359–367. 1994.
9	Wang DY, Chang DB, Kuo SH, et al: Carcinoid tumours of the thymus. Thorax. 49:357–360. 1994.
10	Brambilla E and Lantuejoul S: Thoracic neuroendocrine tumors. Ann Pathol. 25:529–544. 2005.(In French).
11	Gal AA, Kornstein MJ, Cohen C, et al: Neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus: a clinicopathological and prognostic study. Ann Thorac Surg. 72:1179–1182. 2001.
12	Moran CA: Primary neuroendocrine carcinomas of the mediastinum: review of current criteria for histopathologic diagnosis and classification. Semin Diagn Pathol. 22:223–229. 2005.
13	Cardillo G, Rea F, Lucchi M, et al: Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus: a multicenter experience of 35 patients. Ann Thorac Surg. 94:241–246. 2012.