Thymoma classification
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmad Al Maradni, M.D. [2]
Overview
In 1999, a World Health Organization Working group suggested a non-committal terminology (Masaoka classification) for thymoma, preserving the distinct categories of the histogenetic classification, by using letters and numbers to designate tumor entities. Recently, it has been very well accepted as it provides an easy comparison of clinical, pathological and immunological studies.[1]
Pathologic Classification
The World Health Organization histologic classification of thymic epithelial tumors can be divided according to the degree of differentiation into[2]
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| A | A tumor composed of a population of neoplastic thymic epithelial cells having spindle/oval shape, lacking nuclear atypia, and accompanied by few or no nonneoplastic lymphocytes |
| AB | A tumor in which foci having the features of type A thymoma are admixed with foci rich in lymphocytes |
| B1 | A tumor that resembles the normal functional thymus in that it combines large expanses having an appearance practically indistinguishable from normal thymic cortex with areas resembling thymic medulla |
| B2 | A tumor in which the neoplastic epithelial component appears as scattered plump cells with vesicular nuclei and distinct nucleoli among a heavy population of lymphocytes. Perivascular spaces are common and sometimes very prominent. A perivascular arrangement of tumor cells resulting in a palisading effect may be seen. |
| B3 | A type of thymoma predominantly composed of epithelial cells having a round or polygonal shape and exhibiting no or mild atypia. They are admixed with a mild component of lymphocytes, resulting in a sheet-like growth of the neoplastic epithelial cells. |
| C | A thymic tumor (thymic carcinoma) exhibiting clear-cut cytologic atypia and a set of cytoarchitectural features no longer specific to the thymus, but rather analogous to those seen in carcinomas of other organs. Type C thymomas lack immature lymphocytes; whatever lymphocytes may be present are mature and usually admixed with plasma cells. |