An operative case of synchronous thymic carcinoma and primary lung carcinoma

Background. Case of synchronous thymic carcinoma and primary lung carcinoma are rare. Case. A 79-year-old man was found to have an anterior mediastinal tumor 2 years previously. A computed tomographic scan showed a growing anterior mediastinal tumor, and a solitary nodule in the right upper lobe. CT-guided needle biopsy of both tumors revealed squamous cell carcinoma, and additional immunohistochemical study using CD5 verified that they were synchronous double carcinomas; one CD 5 positive and the other negative. Extended thymothymomectomy and wedge resection of the right S³ of the lung, after one course of the chemotherapy (paclitaxel + carboplatin), were performed through median sternotomy. The pathological effect of the chemotherapy was Ef 0 in the thymic carcinoma and Ef 3 in the primary lung carcinoma, respectively. Conclusion. We reported an operated case of chemotreated synchronous thymic and primary pulmonary squamous cell carcinomas, which were preoperatively diagnosed by needle biopsies by immunohistochemical studies using CD5.