[Recurrent thymic carcinoid tumor--report of a case and review of the literature].

A case is presented of a 48-year-old male patient with thymic carcinoid tumor who was operated on twice and followed for 12 years. The original tumor was removed in 1979, and a recurrent tumor was removed 4 years later. Multiple metastases to the lungs, pleura and lymph nodes of the neck were found in 1988; chemotherapy (BAPP) and radiation therapy were not effective, and there was subsequent subcutaneous invasion of the anterior chest. We also discuss the 153 cases of thymic carcinoid tumor reported in the Japanese literature in the Niigata Carcinoid Registry.