An THYMUS CARCINOMA: REPORT OF A CASE IN A PEDIATRIC PATIENT

Abstract

Thymic carcinoma is a malignant tumor of epithelial lineage of the thymus, of rare presentation with an incidence of 0.01% of cases, debuting with a varied clinical picture. Its prognosis is unfavorable since in most cases its diagnosis is found in advanced stages.

This study reports the only case of thymus carcinoma in the pediatric department of the Solca Cuenca Cancer Institute, an 11-year-old boy with non-specific symptoms, characterized by dyspnea, weight loss, intermittent thermal rise, diaphoresis and progressive loss of strength and sensitivity in lower limbs, with a mass at the level of the right cervical region and hypercalcemia, extension studies were performed with confirmatory biopsy of thymus carcinoma.  She received oncologic treatment according to its staging.

For this reason this neoplasm is considered a challenge for oncologists, pediatricians and general practitioners, so if there is suspicion of lesions in the cervical and/or anterior mediastinal region, thymus tumors should be suspected, thus reducing to some extent the time of diagnosis, increasing the prognosis and improving the quality of life.