RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Diagnosis of thymoma
JF Journal of Clinical Pathology
JO J Clin Pathol
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Association of Clinical Pathologists
SP 1238
OP 1244
DO 10.1136/jcp.2005.031138
VO 59
IS 12
A1 Suster, S
YR 2006
UL http://jcp.bmj.com/content/59/12/1238.abstract
AB The diagnosis of thymic epithelial neoplasm has been a topic of controversy for many years. Reasons for this include the lack of predictive value associated with the morphology of these tumours and the multiplicity of classification schemes and terminologies proposed over the years. Recently, a new classification schema was introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in an attempt to standardise nomenclature and facilitate the diagnosis of primary thymic epithelial neoplasms. This schema, although not originally intended as a new histological classification, but rather as a means for translating equivalent terms from the various existing classifications, has represented a major step forward in this direction. However, problems still exist with the WHO schema, particularly with some of the criteria for the various histological subtypes as well as with issues of interobserver reproducibility. For this reason, we favour using a much more simplified approach to the morphological classification of thymic epithelial neoplasms. A personal approach to the morphological diagnosis of thymoma is described, with a brief explanation for the rationale for simplifying the existing diagnostic categories.