A long-term survival case of thymic squamous cell carcinoma, performed complete extirpation with vascular reconstruction of the superior vena cava.

A 59-year-old woman who complained of anterior chest pain exhibited an abnormal shadow on chest X ray and was admitted to our hospital. The chest X ray showed a demarcated tumor at the anterosuperior mediastinum and she was diagnosed as having a mediastinal tumor. After the midsternotomy was performed, the mediastinal tumor derived from the thymic tissues was discovered to have invaded the right upper lung, pericardium and superior vena cava. After excising the tumor, anastomosis between the right brachiocephalic vein and superior vena cava, followed by that between the left brachiocephalic vein and right cardiac auricle was performed using expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-ringed vascular grafts (phi 10 mm) for reconstruction. The tumor was diagnosed as a thymic carcinoma (squamous cell carcinoma) pathologically. After surgery, she was treated by cobalt irradiation. One month and again 3 months after the operation, venography showed patency. The patient has not demonstrated recurrence for 9 years and 6 months.