
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Thymoma pathophysiology
Introduction
Overview
Overview
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.
Pathophysiology
Pathophysiology
Physiology
- Thymus is the site of maturation of T cells.
- This makes thymus the primary center responsible for adaptive immunity.
Pathogenesis
- 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]
Genetics
Genetics
Genetic Alterations Reported for the Different WHO Histological Thymoma sub-types[3]
| WHO Type | Chromosomal Gains | Chromosomal Losses |
| Type A |
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Type AB |
|
|
| Type B3 |
|
|
Associated Conditions
Associated Conditions
Approximately 30% of the patients have their thymomas discovered because of a symptomatic associated autoimmune disorder. These disorders include:[4]
| Type | Diseases |
| Neuromuscular diseases |
|
|---|---|
| Hematologic autoimmune diseases | |
| Dermatologic disorders |
|
| Endocrine disorders | |
| Renal and hepatic diseases | |
| Systemic autoimmune diseases |
Gross Pathology
Gross Pathology
On gross pathology, a well circumscribed mass, that is locally invasive, is a characteristic finding of thymoma.
Microscopic Pathology
Microscopic Pathology
On microscopic histopathological analysis, round cells, with ample vacuolated cytoplasms, and fat droplets are characteristic findings of thymoma.
Video
Video
{{#ev:youtube|wfyixp6JxQM}}
References
References
- ↑ C. Buckley, D. Douek, J. Newsom-Davis, A. Vincent & N. Willcox (2001). “Mature, long-lived CD4+ and CD8+ T cells are generated by the thymoma in myasthenia gravis”. Annals of neurology. 50 (1): 64–72. PMID 11456312. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ J. V. Souadjian, P. Enriquez, M. N. Silverstein & J. M. Pepin (1974). “The spectrum of diseases associated with thymoma. Coincidence or syndrome?”. Archives of internal medicine. 134 (2): 374–379. PMID 4602050. Unknown parameter
|month=ignored (help) - ↑ “http://www.iarc.fr/en/publications/pdfs-online/pat-gen/bb10/BB10.pdf” (PDF). Retrieved 26 February 2014. External link in
|title=(help) - ↑ “http://www.iarc.fr/en/publications/pdfs-online/pat-gen/bb10/BB10.pdf” (PDF). External link in
|title=(help)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Amr Marawan, M.D. [2] Ahmad Al Maradni, M.D. [3]Sabawoon Mirwais, M.B.B.S, M.D.[4]
