Malang Respiratory Journal
Vol. 8 No. 1 (2026): Volume 8 No 1, March 2026 Edition

Rare Case: 65 Year Old Man with Anteromedial Mediastinal Tumor (Thymic Carcinoma) Mimicking Lung Cancer

Lyono, Albert (Unknown)
Agus Setyawan, Ungky (Unknown)
Dwi Pratiwi, Suryanti (Unknown)
Rachma Erawati, Dini (Unknown)
Setyo Yudhanto, Hendy (Unknown)
Isharanto, Artono (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
25 Mar 2026

Abstract

Background: Thymic carcinoma are very rare and often accompanied by metastases to other organs, pericardial effusion and pleural effusion where the 5-year survival rate is about 55%. Thymic carcinoma has several subtypes, squamous cell carcinoma and undifferentiated carcinoma. Case Report: A 65-year-old man coincidentally showed a mediastinal tumor on CXR while infected with COVID-19. Spirometry shows mild obstruction and restriction. Thorax CT scan suggests an anterior-middle mediastinal mass with left pleural effusion. The patient underwent a core biopsy followed by VATS tumor excision. Immunohistochemistry CK(+) and Vimentin(-) suggest a solid type adenocarcinoma, then Napsin A(-), TTF1(-), P40(+) suggest squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was diagnosed with left anteromedial mediastinal tumor (Thymic carcinoma: Squamous cell carcinoma) Masaoka stage III, left pleural effusion. The patient was treated with first line chemotherapy Carboplatin-Etoposide 6 series resulting stable disease followed by maintenance chemotherapy etoposide 6 series. The last RECIST suggests a solid malignant mass in the left lung (stable disease). Discussion: Surgery with radiotherapy is treatment for resectable cases but for unresectable cases chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy is preferred. The patient was unresectable case treated with chemotherapy. Thymic carcinoma has a poor response to chemotherapy with overall response rate around 22-36% but this patient has stable disease with chemotherapy. Conclusion: 65 years-old man without respiratory complaints diagnosed with unresectable thymic carcinoma and left pleural effusion, underwent chemotherapy with result stable disease up to 9 months continued maintenance therapy and become a resectable tumor. Keywords: Thymic carcinoma, Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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Journal Info

Abbrev

mrj

Publisher

Subject

Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology Education Health Professions Immunology & microbiology Medicine & Pharmacology Public Health Other

Description

Malang Respiratory Journal is the official open-access journal of Department of Pulmonology Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia. It publishes articles two times per year. It is a peer reviewed publication of Indonesian Pulmonology and Respiratory ...