Thymolipoma cases resembling radiologically to thymoma

Abstract

Thymolipomas are rare tumours composed of a mixture of mature fat and thymic tissue. This paper describes six thymolipoma cases resembling radiologically to thymoma. This retrospective study evaluated the thymolipomas from six patients at a single institution, which were resected between 2010 and 2018. The clinical data as well as radiologic findings were evaluated, together with the follow-up. The clinical, radiologic, and pathologic features of 6 cases of mediastinal thymolipoma resembling radiologically to thymoma are presented. Clinically, the majority of patients (4 cases) were asymptomatic. One patient presented with upper respiratory symptoms and myasthenia gravis, and other patient presented with chest pain. Radiographically, 6 cases showed an anterior mediastinal tumor; when available, computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an anterior mediastinal mass lesion of different densities depending on the adipose and thymic tissue contents. All the tumors were located in the anterior mediastinum and in all cases complete surgical resection of the mass was accomplished. None of these patients had evidence of recurrence or residual tumor on follow-up. Thymolipoma is a rare, benign thymic tumor consisting primarily of fat. Thymolipoma may sometimes be seen as a soft tissue mass in fatty tissue and it may be considered as a thymoma.