Thymic large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma - a rare and aggressive tumor: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Neuroendocrine tumors are a large group of tumors with a wide spectrum of behavior, affecting mainly the digestive system and the lung. The thymus is very rarely affected.

CASE PRESENTATION: A 28-year-old Arab woman presented with chronic chest pain and dyspnea. A computed tomography scan showed a huge anterior mediastinal mass invading neighboring structures. A mediastinotomy was performed with biopsies of the mass. Pathological findings were consistent with a thymic large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of a large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the thymus, especially in young people, is extremely rare. In this current report, we discuss the clinicopathological issues of this rare tumor according to recent literature data.