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Barone PD, Zhang C. Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the thymus. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1465775. [PMID: 39267733 PMCID: PMC11390396 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1465775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Neuroendocrine neoplasms of the thymus (tNENs), including typical carcinoid, atypical carcinoid, large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma, and small cell carcinoma, are rare tumors with scarce clinical and pathological data available in the literature. They share many common features with neuroendocrine neoplasms in other organs, such as those in the lungs, while demonstrating some distinct clinical and pathological features. This review aims to give an updated overview of each category of tNENs, focusing primarily on the pathologic diagnosis and differential diagnosis of these tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul D Barone
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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Guerrero-Pérez F, Peiró I, Marengo AP, Teulé A, Ruffinelli JC, Llatjos R, Serrano T, Macia I, Vilarrasa N, Iglesias P, Villabona C. Ectopic Cushing's syndrome due to thymic neuroendocrine tumours: a systematic review. Rev Endocr Metab Disord 2021; 22:1041-1056. [PMID: 33961211 DOI: 10.1007/s11154-021-09660-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Knowledge of ectopic Cushing's syndrome (CS) due to thymic neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) comes from short series or single cases. Our aim is to perform a systematic review using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Ovid Medline and Biosis Previews of all cases with ectopic CS due to thymic NETs reported in the last 40 years and describe one illustrative patient attended in our institution. Search of literature: From 162 patients, 58.6% were male and mean age was 34.6 ± 13.9 years-old. Median of symptoms until diagnosis was 6 [2-24] months and 62% had aggressive CS. Imaging was positive in 93.7% (chest X-ray), 97.8% (computed tomography), 80.7% (somatostatin receptor scintigraphy) and median tumour size was 47 [25-68.5] mm. At presentation, 18% had localized disease, 26.2% locally invasive and 55.7% advanced. Eighty-eight present underwent surgery and histological subtypes were atypical (46.7%), typical (30.4%) and carcinoma (21.7%). Tumour persisted or recurred in 70.1%, 63% received radiotherapy and 45.2% chemotherapy. Follow-up median was 26.6 [14.5-57.5] months and mortality was reported in 35.8% with median survival of 38 [19-60] months. MEN-1 mutation was referred in 3.1%. Comparatively, carcinomas had aggressive CS more frequently while atypical showed advanced disease more often. In conclusion, thymic NETs causing ectopic CS are presented as aggressive hypercortisolism in the middle aged population. The disease is commonly extended at diagnosis and persists or recurs after surgery in most patients with a short term high mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando Guerrero-Pérez
- Department of Endocrinology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Inmaculada Peiró
- Clinical Nutrition Unit, Catalan Institute of Oncology, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Unit of Nutrition and Cancer-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Agustina Pia Marengo
- Department of Endocrinology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alex Teulé
- Department of Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Carlos Ruffinelli
- Department of Oncology, Catalan Institute of Oncology, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roger Llatjos
- Department of Pathology, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Teresa Serrano
- Department of Pathology, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ivan Macia
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Bellvitge University Hospital-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Unit of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Barcelona, IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nuria Vilarrasa
- Department of Endocrinology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro Iglesias
- Department of Endocrinology, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Villabona
- Department of Endocrinology, Bellvitge University Hospital, Biomedical Research Institute of Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
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Bohnenberger H, Dinter H, König A, Ströbel P. Neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus and mediastinum. J Thorac Dis 2017; 9:S1448-S1457. [PMID: 29201448 DOI: 10.21037/jtd.2017.02.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Neuroendocrine tumors of the thymus (tNET) and mediastinum are very rare neoplasms with scarce available data. All subtypes [typical and atypical carcinoid tumors (TC and AC), large cell neuroendocrine and small cell carcinoma (SCC)] observed elsewhere in the body occur also in the mediastinum and show only few if any organ-specific morphological differences. Although all available data suggest that the broad principles that govern the biology (and hence) the classification of these tumors in general apply also to tNET, there are a few noteworthy peculiarities related e.g., to risk factors, relative frequency and also to molecular genetic features. In this review, we will briefly summarize current knowledge on tNET with a special emphasis on shared and private features in comparison e.g., with pulmonary NET, which have traditionally been regarded the next closely related NET group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen Dinter
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Alexander König
- Department of Gastroenterology and Gastrointestinal Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ströbel
- Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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Abstract
Bronchial and thymic carcinoids are rare. We present epidemiologic data and potential risk factors. The approach to bronchial and thymic carcinoid patients is discussed, from the initial diagnosis and evaluations to treatment. These malignancies follow staging systems of their site of origin. Because bronchial and thymic carcinoids are rare, we use many treatment strategies that have been demonstrated in gastrointestinal and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The lack of information regarding efficacy in bronchial and thymic carcinoids, as well as the scarcity of therapeutic options available, demands the importance of clinical trials that include these patients.
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