Adrenocorticotropic hormone-producing thymic neuroendocrine carcinoma with oncocytic features: A case report and review of literature.

[cushing syndrome]

Thymic neuroendocrine carcinomas are the most common mediastinal neuroendocrine tumor . These malignancies are not often diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA ), as they are more commonly diagnosed by biopsy or excision . We describe a case of a FNA of a paratracheal mass from a 38 -year -old man who presented with Cushing syndrome . A low -grade neuroendocrine carcinoma with oncocytic features was diagnosed , which was later confirmed by excision of the thymus , anterior mediastinal and paratracheal soft tissue , and lymph nodes . Oncocytic features in these tumors are a rare finding and bring metastatic medullary thyroid carcinomas as well as other metastases into the differential diagnosis . The prognosis of neuroendocrine carcinomas in this location is worse than neuroendocrine carcinomas in other areas , and close follow-up is recommended . Diagn . Cytopathol . 2014 . © 2014 Wiley Periodicals , Inc .