Primary adenocarcinoma of the thymus: an immunohistochemical and molecular study with review of the literature

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Primary adenocarcinoma of thymus is extremely rare. CASE PRESENTATION: This is a case of primary adenocarcinoma with intestinal differentiation and focal mucin production in the thymus. Thymic cyst was associated with this tumor. Intestinal differentiation was confirmed by immunohistochemical stain with positivity for CDX-2, CK20, villin, MOC31 and focal positivity of CK7. Array comperative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis showed a complex pattern of chromosomal imbalances including homozygous deletion at the HLA locus in chromosomal region 6p21.32. CONCLUSION: This rare tumor shows a similar genetic aberration with other studied thymic epithelial tumors.