Thymoma pathophysiology

On gross pathology, a well-circumscribed mass, that is locally invasive, is a characteristic finding of thymoma. On microscopic histopathological analysis, round cells with ample vacuolated cytoplasms and fat droplets are characteristic findings of thymoma.

• Thymus is the site of maturation of T cells.
• This makes thymus the primary center responsible for adaptive immunity.

• The exact pathogenesis of the primary tumor development is not completely understood.

• Primary tumors of thymus are relatively rare.
• Thymoma is the most common type of primary tumor of thymus.
• Thymoma is histologically comprised of abnormally conditioned T cells.
• The mingling of these abnormal T cells into the circulation is believed to be involved in the causality of the associated autoimmune disorders.^[1][2]

Genetic Alterations Reported for the Different WHO Histological Thymoma sub-types^[3]

Approximately 30% of the patients have their thymomas discovered because of a symptomatic associated autoimmune disorder. These disorders include:^[4]

On gross pathology, a well circumscribed mass, that is locally invasive, is a characteristic finding of thymoma.

On microscopic histopathological analysis, round cells, with ample vacuolated cytoplasms, and fat droplets are characteristic findings of thymoma.

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