Korean J Otolaryngol-Head Neck Surg.  2004 May;47(5):470-473.

A Case of Carcinoma Showing Thymus-Like Differentiation

• Kim JP
• Sung BG
• Ahn SK
• Lee JH

Abstract

Carcinoma showing tymus-like differentiation (CASTLE) was defined by Chan et al in 1991, which occurs in the thyroid gland and surrounding soft tissue, or soft tissue of the neck. It originates from ectopic thymus or branchial pouch remnants. The histologic finding shows that the tumor is divided into lobules of variable size and shape, cord with thin and thick fibrous septa, which are infiltrated by lymphocytes and plasma cells. Tumor cells consist of large vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and abundant cytoplasm. Treatment is surgical excision and prognosis is good. Differential diagnosis is squamous cell carcinoma of thyroid and lymphoepithelioma of thymus. We report a case of CASTLE that we treated by surgery and radiation therapy.

Keyword

Carcinoma; Thyroid gland; Thymus; Immunohistochemistry

MeSH Terms

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Cytoplasm
Diagnosis, Differential
Immunohistochemistry
Lymphocytes
Neck
Plasma Cells
Prognosis
Thymus Gland
Thyroid Gland