Complete resection of recurrent thymic carcinoid using cardiopulmonary bypass.

We report a case of recurrent thymic carcinoid (multiple episodes of recurrence over a 14-year period) invading the right atrium and superior vena cava, which was resected using cardiopulmonary bypass. In our case with dense adhesion between the great vessels and the sternum as a result of repeated operations and therapeutic irradiation, the innominate artery was injured while re-sternotomy, which was successfully repaired under deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. Repeated aggressive surgical resection might improve prognosis of the recurrent thymic carcinoid even in patients with extended lesions, which could be completely resected only on cardiopulmonary bypass.