Histology and behaviour of thymic tumours

Abstract

Sixty-seven thymic tumours are classified histologically into epithelial, lymphoid and teratomatous groups. The epithelial tumours, forming approximately 80 per cent. of the series, are further subdivided into differentiated, oval- and spindle-celled, lympho-epitheliomatous, granulomatous and undifferentiated types. An account is given of the distinctive histological features and the clinical course described of each of these types of tumour. It is found that once the histology of the neoplasm is known it is possible to give a guide as to the probable outcome and behaviour of the tumour.