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Thymoma and Multiple Malignancies: A Case of Five Synchronous Neoplasms and Literature Review

Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, Wisconsin

Sarah A. Thurman, MD

Department of Radiation Oncology, Beth Israel-Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts

Steven P. Howard, MD, PhD

Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine, Madison, Wisconsin

REPRINT REQUESTS: James S. Welsh, MD, PhD, Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 600 Highland Avenue, K4/B100, Madison, WI 53792, Telephone: 608-263-8500, Fax: 608-263-9167, Email: welsh{at}humonc.wisc.edu

The presence of five discrete synchronous or metachronous primary neoplasms in a single patient is an extremely rare event. This is a report of a patient with a malignant (invasive) thymoma and four other independent primary neoplasms including: gliosarcoma, papillary thyroid cancer, meningioma and metastatic adenocarcinoma of the colon, found synchronously at autopsy. Thymoma patients appear to have an inherent predisposition towards developing additional neoplasms. Other than the thymoma, the presented patient had no obvious risk factors for neoplasia. This case provides evidence for an unusual syndrome of thymoma and multiple primary neoplasms. Further research is required to elucidate the mechanism of this association. Meanwhile, heightened awareness of this association may allow earlier detection and treatment of additional cancers in patients with a history of thymoma.

Key Words: Multiple primary neoplasms • Synchronous neoplasms • Thymoma