[Carcinoid tumor of the thymus gland with multiple metastases. Report of a case (author's transl)].

A pregnant woman in the 29th, week of gestation was admitted to the hospital with mediastinal pressure symptoms. A tentative diagnosis of lymphoma was made and the patient was given chemotherapy (vincristine, ciclophosphamide and adriamycin) plus radiotherapy, but no objective response was obtained. During the postoperative period (cesarean section) the patient developed clinical symptoms of muscular paralysis of unknown etiopathogenesis. Biopsy of a cervical lymph node showed histological pattern of tumor of the APUD system (chemodectoma). Multiple metastases appeared in the lungs, bones, brain, heart and ovaries in spite of treatment with various chemotherapeutic agents (vincristine, actinomycin D, CCNU and DTIC). Necropsy revealed the existence of a large tumor of the thymus gland, which histopathologic structure resembles to that of carcinoid. Ultrastructural examination showed abundant granules of neurosecretion confirming an APUD tumor. Cushing-like appearance of the patient was attributed "a posterior" to ACTH released by the tumor. A review ofthe clinical features, endocrine function and anatomical localizations of carcinoid tumors is included.