Langerhans cells proliferation in ectopic micronodular thymoma with lymphoid stroma: a case report

Int J Clin Exp Pathol. 2014 Sep 15;7(10):7262-7. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Ectopic micronodular thymoma (MNT) is a rare tumor. We described a 76-year-old woman, who was referred to our institutional for a mass in the left cervical region. The Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan showed a 3.7 cm × 1.7 cm × 2.0 cm mass. The neoplasm was composed of epithelial tumor cells arranged in a micronodular growth pattern set in a stroma showing lymphoid hyperplasia with germinal centers. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the neoplastic epithelial cells were reactive for AE1/AE3, CK5/6, P63, and the lymphoid component to be of mixed B- and immature T-cell lineage. Langerhans cells were confirmed within epithelial nodules for the first time with langerin, S-100, CD1a expression. We report a case of cervical ectopic MNT to emphasize the langerhans cells proliferation and the histopathologic features and differential diagnosis of the rare lesion to promote a better and broader understanding of this less understood subject.

Keywords: Thymoma; ectopic; langerhans cell; micronodular.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / analysis
  • Biopsy
  • Cell Proliferation*
  • Choristoma / immunology
  • Choristoma / pathology*
  • Choristoma / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Langerhans Cells / chemistry
  • Langerhans Cells / immunology
  • Langerhans Cells / pathology*
  • Lymphocytes / chemistry
  • Lymphocytes / immunology
  • Lymphocytes / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Stromal Cells / chemistry
  • Stromal Cells / immunology
  • Stromal Cells / pathology*
  • Thymoma / chemistry
  • Thymoma / immunology
  • Thymoma / pathology*
  • Thymoma / surgery
  • Thyroid Gland*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / immunology
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Thyroid Neoplasms / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Burden

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor