Open AccessRapid development of thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma despite transcervical thymectomy in a patient with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
Author(s) -
Dhalapathy Sadacharan,
Sagili Vijaya Bhaskar Reddy,
Vinita Agrawal,
Gaurav Agarwal
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
indian journal of endocrinology and metabolism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.456
H-Index - 28
eISSN - 2230-9500
pISSN - 2230-8210
DOI - 10.4103/2230-8210.113774
Subject(s) - medicine , multiple endocrine neoplasia , thymectomy , malignancy , primary hyperparathyroidism , thymic carcinoma , hyperparathyroidism , endocrine system , parathyroidectomy , parathyroid carcinoma , men1 , carcinoma , pathology , gastroenterology , thymoma , myasthenia gravis , parathyroid hormone , hormone , biochemistry , chemistry , gene , calcium
Thymic neuroendocrine (NE) tumors are a rare manifestation of multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 1 (MEN-1). They are malignant and aggressive tumors and form a major cause of mortality in MEN-1. Transcervical thymectomy (TCT) at the time of parathyroid surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) in MEN-1 usually prevents thymic NE tumors. We report a 56-year-old nonsmoker male with sporadic MEN-1 who presented with thymic NE carcinoma developing rapidly within a span of 8 months after subtotal parathyroidectomy and TCT for PHPT. We present a brief review of literature on this rare NE malignancy, focusing on its occurrence despite TCT. This case highlights the fact that thymic NE carcinoma may develop even after TCT in MEN-1. Regular surveillance for these aggressive thymic NE tumors is mandatory even after TCT in MEN-1 setting.