Takahashi Toshiaki, Graham Daniel, Wu Evan
Department of Medicine, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Hawaii Pacific Health, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA.
Thorac Cancer. 2025 Jan;16(2):e70001. doi: 10.1111/1759-7714.70001.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a subtype of epithelial neoplasms commonly found in salivary glands, but can also be seen in the thymus. Diagnosing MEC of the thymus is sometimes challenging due to its histological similarities with adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC). This case report describes a 64-year-old female with a history of metastatic endometrial adenocarcinoma who presented to an oncology clinic with a thymic mass as well as multiple mass lesions in the liver, bone, and abdominal wall. Initially diagnosed as thymic ASC based on histopathology, further genomic profiling revealed a CRTC1/MAML2 translocation, leading to the diagnosis of metastatic MEC of the thymus. Comprehensive genomic testing played a crucial role in distinguishing MEC from ASC. This case highlights the importance of genetic testing in cases of uncertain primary origins and in differentiating between morphologically similar tumors.
黏液表皮样癌(MEC)是上皮性肿瘤的一种亚型,常见于唾液腺,但也可见于胸腺。由于胸腺黏液表皮样癌在组织学上与腺鳞癌(ASC)相似,因此其诊断有时具有挑战性。本病例报告描述了一名64岁女性,有转移性子宫内膜腺癌病史,因胸腺肿块以及肝脏、骨骼和腹壁的多个肿块病变就诊于肿瘤诊所。最初根据组织病理学诊断为胸腺腺鳞癌,进一步的基因组分析显示CRTC1/MAML2易位,从而诊断为胸腺转移性黏液表皮样癌。全面的基因组检测在鉴别黏液表皮样癌和腺鳞癌方面发挥了关键作用。本病例强调了基因检测在原发性起源不明的病例以及鉴别形态学相似肿瘤中的重要性。