Primary neoplasm of the thymus
Although primary tumours of the thymus are rare, they are the most common causes of a neoplasm of the anterosuperior mediastinum 1.
- thymoma
- 2/3 benign
- 1/3 malignant
- invasive thymoma (most)
- thymic carcinoma (rare)
- thymolipoma / thymoliposarcoma
- thymic cyst
- congenital (contains thymic tissue in wall)
- secondary to thoracotomy
- following chemotherapy or radiotherapy for mediastinal tumours
- inflammatory
- benign thymic hyperplasia
- thymic carcinoid
- primary thymic lymphoma
