Anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type AB thymoma and adenocarcinoma: a case report

Collision tumors are defined as the coexistence of two or more histologically distinct tumor types at the same anatomical site. Mediastinal collision tumors constitute an exceptionally rare subtype of these lesions. Clinically and radiologically, the preoperative diagnosis is particularly difficult...

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Main Authors: Zhongqin Kang, Rong Xu, Weiya Wang, Keyu Yan, Yi Liao, Lizhi Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1495627/full
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author Zhongqin Kang
Rong Xu
Weiya Wang
Keyu Yan
Yi Liao
Lizhi Zhang
author_facet Zhongqin Kang
Rong Xu
Weiya Wang
Keyu Yan
Yi Liao
Lizhi Zhang
author_sort Zhongqin Kang
collection DOAJ
description Collision tumors are defined as the coexistence of two or more histologically distinct tumor types at the same anatomical site. Mediastinal collision tumors constitute an exceptionally rare subtype of these lesions. Clinically and radiologically, the preoperative diagnosis is particularly difficult due to their complex pathological composition and nonspecific manifestations. Misdiagnoses are common in clinical practice, even with preoperative needle biopsy. Radiologic identification of collision tumors is essential to ensure comprehensive sampling for guiding appropriate treatments. Herein, we report an extremely rare case of mediastinal collision tumor diagnosed by contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT), with pathology confirming type AB thymoma and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (likely of malignant foregut cyst origin). This case report aims to raise awareness of this rare tumor and to discuss the imaging features based on a systematic review of the literature.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Oncology
spelling doaj-art-b10b8e09bfae421ba4b1ece66aaf25f82025-08-20T02:30:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-05-011510.3389/fonc.2025.14956271495627Anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type AB thymoma and adenocarcinoma: a case reportZhongqin Kang0Rong Xu1Weiya Wang2Keyu Yan3Yi Liao4Lizhi Zhang5Departments of Radiology, Luxian People’s Hospital, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartments of Radiology, West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartments of Pathology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartments of Pathology, Luxian People’s Hospital, Luzhou, Sichuan, ChinaDepartments of Radiology, West China Second Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaDepartments of Radiology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, ChinaCollision tumors are defined as the coexistence of two or more histologically distinct tumor types at the same anatomical site. Mediastinal collision tumors constitute an exceptionally rare subtype of these lesions. Clinically and radiologically, the preoperative diagnosis is particularly difficult due to their complex pathological composition and nonspecific manifestations. Misdiagnoses are common in clinical practice, even with preoperative needle biopsy. Radiologic identification of collision tumors is essential to ensure comprehensive sampling for guiding appropriate treatments. Herein, we report an extremely rare case of mediastinal collision tumor diagnosed by contrast-enhanced chest computed tomography (CT), with pathology confirming type AB thymoma and well-differentiated adenocarcinoma (likely of malignant foregut cyst origin). This case report aims to raise awareness of this rare tumor and to discuss the imaging features based on a systematic review of the literature.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1495627/fullcollision tumorforegut cysttype AB thymomaadenocarcinomacomputed tomography
spellingShingle Zhongqin Kang
Rong Xu
Weiya Wang
Keyu Yan
Yi Liao
Lizhi Zhang
Anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type AB thymoma and adenocarcinoma: a case report
Frontiers in Oncology
collision tumor
foregut cyst
type AB thymoma
adenocarcinoma
computed tomography
title Anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type AB thymoma and adenocarcinoma: a case report
title_full Anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type AB thymoma and adenocarcinoma: a case report
title_fullStr Anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type AB thymoma and adenocarcinoma: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type AB thymoma and adenocarcinoma: a case report
title_short Anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type AB thymoma and adenocarcinoma: a case report
title_sort anterior mediastinal collision tumor of type ab thymoma and adenocarcinoma a case report
topic collision tumor
foregut cyst
type AB thymoma
adenocarcinoma
computed tomography
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1495627/full
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AT rongxu anteriormediastinalcollisiontumoroftypeabthymomaandadenocarcinomaacasereport
AT weiyawang anteriormediastinalcollisiontumoroftypeabthymomaandadenocarcinomaacasereport
AT keyuyan anteriormediastinalcollisiontumoroftypeabthymomaandadenocarcinomaacasereport
AT yiliao anteriormediastinalcollisiontumoroftypeabthymomaandadenocarcinomaacasereport
AT lizhizhang anteriormediastinalcollisiontumoroftypeabthymomaandadenocarcinomaacasereport