Large multilocular thymic cyst in a patient with multiple autoimmune diseases: a case report
Authors:
V. Bartoš 1; M. Urda 2
Authors‘ workplace:
Martinské bioptické centrum, s. r. o., Martin, SR
1; Fakultná nemocnica s poliklinikou F. D. Roosevelta, Banská Bystrica Oddelenie pneumológie a ftizeológie
2
Published in:
Prakt. Lék. 2025; 105(3): 109-113
Category:
Of different specialties
Overview
Mediastinal cystic masses represent a wide spectrum of nosological entities. Multilocular thymic cyst is a very rare form. A 59-year-old man with a history of pulmonary sarcoidosis with mediastinal lymph node and skin involvement, ulcerative colitis, and rheumatoid arthritis, was diagnosed to have a sharply demarcated tumor resistance in the thymus region by CT scan. It was surgically removed along with a subpleural lymph node. Grossly, it was a large multicystic lesion measuring 14 × 9 × 3 cm. It microscopically consisted of multiple cysts lined by flat, cuboidal, and squamous epithelium. There was intense mixed inflammatory infiltration in the surrounding stroma. A diagnosis of multilocular thymic cyst was done. The lymph node revealed non-caseating granulomatous lymphadenitis. Despite its rarity, multilocular thymic cyst should be included in differential diagnosis of cystic tumorous masses arising in the anterior mediastinum. Through this case, we show that this is especially true for the patients with autoimmune disorders, as it almost always coexists with them.
Keywords:
autoimmune diseases – Sarcoidosis – multilocular thymic cyst
Sources
- Bozkurtlar E. Unilocular and multilocular thymic cysts: A study on the possible histomorphological and/or clinical differences. Marmara Med J. 2022; 35(3): 330–334.
- Cooley-Rieders K, Van Haren RM. Mediastinal thymic cysts: a narrative review. Mediastinum 2022; 6 : 33.
- Damaskos C, Garmpis N, Garmpi A, et al. Multilocular thymic cyst in a young, otherwise healthy woman: a case report. Cureus 2020; 12(10): e11210.
- Hatano H, Sumiya R, Misumi K, et al. Multilocular thymic cyst detected during COVID1treatment in an HIVp adult man: A case report and literature review. Exp Ther Med. 2023; 25(6): 285.
- Jeung MY, Gasser B, Gangi A, et al. Imaging of cystic masses of the mediastinum. Radiographics. 2002; 22(Spec No): S79–93.
- Kawamoto N, Okita R, Inokawa H, et al. Multilocular thymic cyst in a patient with preclinical rheumatoid arthritis: A case report. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2020; 74 : 136–139.
- Kolek V, Žurková M, Lošťáková V. Sarkoidóza – nadále záhadné ochorení. Vnitř. Lék. 2017; 63(11): 807–814.
- Sun J, Yang QN, Guo Y, et al. Multilocular thymic cysts can be easily misdiagnosed as malignant tumor on computer tomography: A case report. World J Clin Cases 2024; 12(8): 1474–1480.
- Šafránek J, Špidlen V, Vodička J. Mediastinální cysty, chirurgické řešení. Rozhl Chir. 2011; 90(5): 277–208.
- Vargas D, Suby-Long T, Restrepo CS. Cystic lesions of the mediastinum. Semin Ultrasound CT MR. 2016; 37(3): 212–222.
- Vašáková M, Šterclová M, Anton J. Sarkoidóza – systémová nemoc. Co je nového? Prakt. Lék. 2007; 88(4): 208–212.
adresa pro korešpondenciu:
MUDr. PhDr. Vladimír Bartoš, PhD., MPH
Martinské bioptické centrum, s.r.o.
Prieložtek 1, 036 01 Martin, SR
e-mail: vladim.bartos@gmail.com
Labels
General practitioner for children and adolescents General practitioner for adultsArticle was published in
General Practitioner
2025 Issue 3
Most read in this issue
- Large multilocular thymic cyst in a patient with multiple autoimmune diseases: a case report
- Women’s experiences of care during caesarean delivery
- Results of the Czech Myeloma group project CRAB I
- Autoplastic image of chronic illness in the patient’s experience and behavior