Characterization of malignant thrombus in an invasive thymoma with intravascular growth

J Radiol Case Rep. 2013 Feb 1;7(2):17-23. doi: 10.3941/jrcr.v7i2.1115. Print 2013 Feb.

Abstract

We report an unusual case of an invasive thymoma with a thrombus in the right atrium and describe the radiological findings consistent with the malignant nature of the thrombus. The thrombus showed significant enhancement on computerized tomography images similar to the tumoral mass. On magnetic resonance imaging, both the tumor and the thrombus have heterogeneously high signal intensities on T2-weighted images. On diffusion-weighted images they both exhibit high signal intensity and low apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values which support the malignant nature of the thrombus and the mass.

Keywords: intravascular growth; invasive thymoma; tumor thrombus.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Contrast Media
  • Dyspnea / etiology
  • Edema / etiology
  • Face
  • Female
  • Heart Atria / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Middle Aged
  • Thrombosis / pathology*
  • Thymoma / blood supply
  • Thymoma / complications
  • Thymoma / pathology*
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thymus Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Thymus Neoplasms / complications
  • Thymus Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thymus Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Contrast Media