Although primary tumors of the thymus are rare, they are the most common causes of a neoplasm of the anterosuperior mediastinum 1.
-
thymoma (staging)
- one-third are benign
- two-thirds are 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 tumors
- inflammatory
- benign thymic hyperplasia
- thymic carcinoid
- primary thymic lymphoma