Title:A Developing Anterior Mediastinal Mass in a Breast Cancer Patient: Thymic Hyperplasia
Volume: 18
Author(s): Nilgün Güldoğan, Aykut Soyder, Ebru Yılmaz and Aydan Arslan*
Affiliation:
- Department of Radiology,
Zonguldak Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Zonguldak, Turkey
Keywords:
Breast cancer, thymic hyperplasia, chemotherapy, CT, imaging, tumor.
Abstract:
Introduction: True thymic hyperplasia following chemotherapy has been described
mostly in children. There are a few cases of thymus hyperplasia that have been reported in breast
cancer patients. Diagnosis of this unusual entity is very crucial to pretend unnecessary surgery or interventional
diagnostic procedures.
Case Presentation: We report a case of thymus hyperplasia in a patient who was operated and treated
with adjuvant chemotherapy for stage 2 breast cancer two years ago. In the follow-up CT scans,
an anterior mediastinal mass was noted. Radiologic evaluation and follow-up revealed thymus enlargement.
Discussion: Thymic hyperplasia following chemotherapy has been described in both children and
adults, but occurs mostly in children and adolescents treated for lymphoma and several other types
of tumors. Few cases are reported in literature describing thymus hyperplasia following chemotherapy
in a breast cancer patient. The imaging findings of thymic hyperplasia on CT, MRI and PET
CT are discussed.
Conclusion: Radiologists must be aware of this unusual finding in breast cancer patients treated
with chemotherapy to guide the clinicians appropriately in order to avoid unnecessary surgical intervention,
additional invasive diagnostic procedures, or chemotherapy.
