[Carcinoid-like ACTH-active thymus tumor with adrenal hyperplasia and the Itsenko-Cushing syndrome].

Rare carcinoid-like ACTH-active tumour of the thymus in a woman of 40 is described. The tumour was of a solid-trabecular structure with rosette-like figures and consisted of spindle, polyhedral and roundish cells containing electron-dense granules of the neurosecretory type. Hormonal activity of the tumour was manifested in a pronounced hypercorticism with a marked adrenal hyperplasia, atrophy of sex organs and general virilization, skeletal muscle atrophy, osteoporosis, signs of diabetes mellitus, lipid hepatosis and other symptoms of a grave Itsenko-Cushing' syndrome followed by a fever. In spite of the absence of metastasis tumour was characterised by a rapid expansive growth with the compression of neck veins and venous stasis in both mediastinal organs and the tumour itself with the necrosis in its central parts. The cause of death was the thromboembolism of lung arteries from the thrombotic veins of the lower limbs.