[Thymic seminoma. Apropos of a case diagnosed in a woman]. / Le séminome thymique. A propos d'un cas diagnostiqué chez une femme.

ABSTRACT

Primary thymic seminoma is a rare germ cell neoplasm histologically identical to testicular seminoma. About 100 cases have been reported in the world literature. The most probable pathogenic theory is abnormal migration of germinal cells from the vitelline sac to the embryonic thymus. Management involves surgery and radiotherapy. The extreme radiosensitivity of the tumor is responsible for a 5-years survival rate of 75 per cent. Thymic seminomas are usually found in young men. We report the case of a 49 year female in whom the combination of surgery and radiotherapy followed by chemotherapy provided excellent results.