All issues > Volume 31(9); 1988

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1988;31(9):1237-1242. Published online September 30, 1988.

A Case of Spindle Cell Thymoma with Spinal Cord Compression.

Ki Hyeok Lee¹, Dong Joo Nah¹, Jong In Byun¹, Sang Min Seong¹, Kyung Tai Whang¹, Eun Deok Chang², Young Hee Jee²

¹Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea
²Department of Clinical Pathology, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea

Received: February 1, 1988;  Accepted: April 1, 1988.

Abstract

We experienced a case who presented symptoms of spinal cord compression in association with posterior mediastinal thymoma. A 2-year old female patient was admitted to the hospital for evaluation of gait difficulty and motor weakness of legs which aggravated during two weeks prior to admission. General physical, mental status examination and cranial nerve functions were within normal limits. Diffuse moderate weakness of the lower extremities was noted and the patient had a difficulty to walk. Hyperreflexia of the legs were present, and plantar responses were extensor. Clonus was also elicited. Sensory impairmant of the lower extremities and bladder dysfunction were felt to be present. Chest X-ray and CT scan of the chest showed a large prevertebral mass pushing the mediastinal structures forward and destruction of T8 verebral body. On 6th hospital day, emergency laminectomy of T8~10 vertebrae with removal of tumor mass from extradural space was performed. Light microscopic examination of the tissue revealed a thymoma consisting predominantly of spindle shaped cells with scattered lymphocytic cells. After operation, neurologic abnormalitites found in the lower extremities began to improve and the patients was discharged in satisfactory condition on 18th hospital day.

Keywords :Thymoma, Posterior mediastinal tumor, Spinal cord compression