Intratracheal recurrence of thymoma 7 years after complete resection

A 66-year-old woman with a massive anterior mediastinal tumour was diagnosed with type B2 thymoma. After 2 courses of chemotherapy, extended thymectomy and partial resection of the lung and large vessels were performed, and the tumour was completely resected. The patient received no postoperative therapy. Seven years after the surgery, follow-up chest computed tomography showed a papillary soft tissue tumour in the trachea almost obstructing the airway. Intratracheal tumour resection was performed under rigid bronchoscopy, and the pathological diagnosis of intratracheal recurrence of thymoma was made. The patient received postoperative radiotherapy and has remained alive without disease progression 9 months after the second operation. Although thymic epithelial tumours are most likely to recur in the pleura (59.9%), lungs (19.8%) and local sites (16.0%) [1], endobronchial recurrence or growth is uncommon [2].